07.21.17 – Okayafrica

Rasheedah Phillips and Camae Ayewa of Black Quantum Futurism. Photo via Instagram.

DIASPORAOver the course of July well be publishing shortprofiles, essays and interviews onthe themeof Afrofutures. Together these stories will bea deep dive into the way African and diaspora thinkers, technologists and artists view a future for Africans in the world and outside of it.

Take a look at our introduction to Afrofuturismhere.

Throughout thismonth, well also highlight and celebrate young, leading talents who already put into practice what a future with black people look like through their work in our daily profile series, NextGen.

In our tenthedition, meet the minds behind the Black Quantum Futurism collective.

Afrofuturism can be expressed far beyond music, art, fashion or film it can be a method of activism and community building. That is exactly what Black Quantum Futurism, a women-led organization based in Philly, aspires to do, with the help of art, history and teaching.

Founded by poet Camae Ayewa of musical outfit Moor Mother, and Rasheedah Phillips of The Afrofuturist Affair, Black Quantum Futurism focuses on spreading healing, justice and memory through activism, DIY culture and art, primarily but not exclusively to people that may not have access to the internet.

Afrofuturism can be used by disenfranchised communities to create safe space for dialogue, visioning, and testing of ideas around community sustainability, resilience, and resistanceand as a technology for the actual implementation of those visions and ideas, Ayewa says in an interview with Thump. (It also sets) an example for other advocates and policymakers on how to creatively approach these issues using social practice and community-engaged art. Thats what Black Quantum Futurism is. Its all practicalthats the main point.

At this summers Moogfest, a music, art and tech festival in Durham, North Carolina, Black Quantum Futurism and The Afrofuturist Affair curated workshops, performances and talks around empowerment through Afrofuturism. There was Discovering Your Secret Superpower, which helps people channel their inner superhero personas and 14 hours, a 14-hour performance by Ayewa. Workshops and performances aside, BQF has published books, created a designated community space called Community Futures Lab in North Philly, has conducted residences and held talks around the world.

Black Quantum Futurism proves that we can write our own futures into existence, by remembering the past and envisioning a brighter present. Its interesting how communities all over the world are understanding how important it is to move [away] from social constructs. One model that you read in some book, or some person was talking about on Facebook, may not be the model for you. We have to take the agency to define our own thing that keeps us chill, keeps our head above water.

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07.21.17 - Okayafrica