How Afrofuturism’s Newfound Attention Will Impact African American Economics

CBx Vibe:Take A Byte” by Janelle Monáe

By Majella Mark

  • Dictionary.com hails 2022 is the year of Afrofuturism, a movement in literature, music, art
  • 3 in 10 Black people are more likely than any other ethnic group to participate in the crypto market

2022 is the year of Afrofuturism, a movement in literature, music, art, etc., featuring futuristic or science fiction themes which incorporate elements of Black history and culture, according to Dictionary.com. What it means to many in the Black community is a conceptualized motivation to innovate for the community in order to bring elevation beyond our possible comprehension as products like cryptocurrencies, NFTs and the metaverse take center stage. Afrofuturism is no longer this thing for the Black community, but an abstract presentation being observed by the masses.

Why This Matters: One thing missing from this surge for Black futurist appreciation is permanent participation in building legacy. With NFTs, self-driving cars, digital currency, and biotechnological advances, it would be detrimental for Black people to fall behind. In the tech space Black people represent 4% of board members, 3% of tech investors and 1% of tech startup founders due to a lack of access and awareness. Organizations like Pull Up For Change and 15% Pledge are working to resolve that.

As we shift to alternative forms of money we still lag behind in education of those alternatives. In a 2019 study, 23% of the Black participants hadn’t heard about cryptocurrency compared to 16% of their White counterparts. Those numbers have since evolved with 3 in 10 Black people more likely than any other ethnic group to participate in the crypto market. The future is digital, diverse, global and full of opportunities. We need to be prepared for the advancements which are fast approaching.

Situational Awareness: The Black Futurists Group is sustaining our future through public policy, social justice advocacy and media. The African Diaspora Development Institute was created to plan and execute the successful future of the African Diaspora including the Wakanda One project. Getting familiar with these resources and others is a must.

CBx Vibe:Take A Byte” by Janelle Monáe

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