Bio-Engineering Our Future

Scientists predict that in a few decades, we may be able to select from a "catalogue" what our babies will be like before they are born. We could choose ethnic facial features; adult height and body shape; intelligence; which diseases they will be resistant to and much more.

What could go wrong? A lot. We could biologically design ourselves into extinction.

First of all, consider that parents may want their off-spring to be tall, slender, athletic, and cheery (blonde?).  But that common portrait of the optimum human-type as promoted by popular media may not be conducive in changing environmental conditions.

Darker skin allows livability in extreme sunlight. Smaller, more compact body designs require less food during famine. The list goes on.

Genetic variation allows selected creatures to walk through the gauntlet of daily life. Dangers that hinders one individual, another individual could dodge and escape to continue the bloodline. Thus, when you roll the genetic dice, it  may be best to resist the urge to tilt the table; instead, trust random mutations for filling the gene pools with many varying characteristics.


Surrender our embryos to natural selection (within limits, of course). Embrace each child's strengths and weaknesses when they emerge.

By choosing what are considered to be positive traits today, could doom the human species by limiting our adaptability to unforeseen conditions -- like drastically rising sea levels or an accidental virus that targets tall, athletic people.

Having webbed feet, a short statue  and gills to breath submerged under seawater may be drastically more important than the prowess to deliver a backhand in tennis. Or dribble a basketball.

From a biological standpoint, diversity is an essential condition for the survival of humanity.

22nd Century Urban Landscape

Ridiculous wealth built on the backs of people foraging for scraps of garbage. Is this dystopia? Or only "Things to Come."

What is the future of our communities?  Every major urban center on our speck of rock and oceans orbiting a middle-aged star is expanding and has both affluent and struggling components.  Populations are diverse yet increasingly more segregated -- but not only by race. The poor hate and envy the rich. The rich ridicule the poor who never inherited money or were not blessed by rare opportunities to accumulate wealth; yet, it is the poor and disenfranchised who provide vital assets: muscle, innovation, culture, inspiration, as well as livability of the spaces inhabited by all people.

You would be surprised at what human ingenuity in desperation conditions can achieve. The Egyptian Pyramids were not built just by Pharaohs; working class people constructed magnificent monuments with the guidance of a few brilliant minds wishing to celebrate their society and strengthen their beliefs as well as feed their families.

It is ridiculous to exclaim that all wealthy people are grotesque parasites who suck out the essence of human activities simply for greed and the need to add more splendors into a few personal collections.

Yet, all great civilizations will face their doom unless a workable compromise can be achieved.

Open USA Borders for Brown People

Migration: A Human Right

Heartless military-style community policing, ridiculous barricading of natural geography, weaponizing borders has become acceptable in Trump's 21st Century Dystopia American Nightmare. This is a dire result of our idiotic and cowardly political landscape that encourages a madman to rule the country.

Some aspects of AFROFuturism suggest that we should abandon culturally biased hate to restrict human movement and interaction.

We should progress to a properly administered, humane immigration policy. This would be healthy and increase prosperity for newcomers and existing residents. Routes of free and unhindered migration should be established and protected.

There is nothing wrong having an (monitored) open border with friendly countries.

Other continental regions around the world are embracing free transfer of people. The African Union, the European Union, and other places are easing the pathways for individuals to work, gain citizenship and prosper in places where they were NOT born.  There is no logical or ethical reason to stop populations of people improving their lives as well as enhancing the economy of several nations by moving from one place to another.

Political tyrants for their own personal gains (or insanity) demand the control of people. In fairness to the current system, there currently are open borders: for white people. Brown people need not apply.

This is the challenge for AFROFuturists: expose the hypocrisies and build worlds that equally embrace all people via books, music, and art.