Afrofuturism Unveiled: Illuminating the Path to Cultural Resurgence and STEM Excellence

By Devin White & Ebony O. McGee, published in Science for the People.

Sankofa: Looking Back on Kemet to Find Afrofuturism

White supremacist practices of stealing labor, innovation, and credit from Black people have resulted in the erasure of innumerable contributions by Black people to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields throughout history.

Historical erasure functions as structural and intellectual violence, and despite centuries of exploitation and subjugation under systems of white supremacy, Black people in STEM have been at the forefront of innovation and discovery in various fields, including mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, engineering, and computer science. Their work has profoundly influenced our understanding of the world and led to the development of many of the technologies we rely on today.

Where would the US be today without the contributions of enslaved Black people and their descendants’ knowledge of STEM? Where would STEM be without racism?

Sankofa, a Twi word from the Akan tribe of Ghana, encourages Black folx to “go back and get it.” The Adinkra symbols for Sankofa are represented by two symbols: (1) a mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward and (2) an adorned heart. The bird represents the idea that the past serves as a guide for planning the future, represented by the egg on the bird’s back.

We are Afrofuturists and we desire to reshape STEM using an Afrofuturist perspective. Afrofuturists use the lens of science fiction and fantasy, along with science and technology, to explore the Afrikan diaspora experience, both past and present, and to imagine new possibilities for the future. Afrofuturist works deeply explore interconnections between the past, present, and future. Moreover, a key characteristic of Afrofuturism is revisiting the past to theorize the future. They emphasize the role of spirituality in shaping the destiny of the Afrikan diaspora. Ytasha Womack, author of Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci Fi and Fantasy Culture (2013), describes a “total reenvisioning of the past and speculation about the future rife with cultural critiques.” Afrofuturists often challenge traditional narratives of history and progress, and they envision futures that are more inclusive and equitable.

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