Meet the Architects of AFROFuturism

 

February 17th -- FREE E-Book On Amazon

Why is this image so important to Black History (365) . . . 

Black History is more than Harriet, Frederick, and Martin who are heroic people who should be honored and hoisted. However,  lesser-acknowledged names such as Sutton, George, Pauline, Leslie, Martin (D), Thomas, and Charles should be considered.  (Today, Octavia is well known.)

The men and women depicted in this image are some (not all!) of the "Architects" of AFROFuturism. They are the creators of speculative fiction that present positive portraits of people of color who pushed beyond their circumstances to imagine a brighter future. 

We are diverse people with diverse genius and diverse aspirations. AFROFuturism is a significant aspect of that genius.

We must explore and immerse ourselves amongst these pioneers of thought and inspiration, not just during Black History Month but for the entire year. Get started now!

Sutton E Griggs

Sutton Elbert Griggs (June 19, 1872 – January 2, 1933) was an author, Baptist minister, and social activist. He is best known for his novel Imperium in Imperio, a utopian work that envisions a separate African-American state within the United States.

George S Schuyler

George  Samuel Schuyler born in 1895 was a controversial writer and socialist. He rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. In his book "Black Empire" he wove a fantastic tale of ray guns, futurist airships, biological warfare, and Africa conquering Europe.

Pauline Hopkins

Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins born in 1859 was an American novelist, journalist, playwright, historian, and editor. Her novel follows the adventures of Reuel, a mixed-race American, as he travels to Ethiopia from America searching for treasure. The book explores issues of love, identity, trauma, and spirituality through the perspective of the African-American community. 

L.A. Banks

Leslie Esdaile Banks  (1959 to 2011) is a recent AFROFuturtist.  LA Banks is credited with creating the first African-American vampire huntress. She wrote a series of books that put color into a genre that traditionally neglected anyone, not of European descent. L.A. faced many challenges in the publishing industry and with readers. She was prolific until her last days on Earth.

Martin Delany

Martin Robison Delany (May 6, 1812 – January 24, 1885) was an abolitionist, journalist, physician, soldier, writer, and arguably the first proponent of black nationalism in America. Blake: or, the huts of America, a novel. In one of the subtexts of Blake is to show the difference between the realities of Slavery and the picture Stowe painted in Uncle Tom. Indeed, Daleny's hero Henry Blake is placed in the exact same place time and position as Uncle Tom, but instead of heroically suffering and dying and inspiring while refusing to physically resist slavery, Henry Blake runs away from slavery to organize an international revolution against slavery

Thomas Mofolo

Thomas Mofolo was born in Khojane, Lesotho, on 22 December 1876. Mofolo composed Chaka (1925), a fictionalized account of the Zulu conqueror who built a mighty empire during the first quarter of the 19th century. Under Mofolo's pen, the eventful career of Chaka (Shaka) becomes the epic tragedy of a heroic figure whose overweening ambition drives him to insane cruelty and ultimate ruin.

Charles Chestnutt

Charles W Chesnutt's most notable book is The Conjure Woman (1899), a fantastic collection of stories set in postbellum North Carolina. The lead character Uncle Julius, a formerly enslaved man, entertains a white couple from the North, who have moved to the farm, with fantastical tales of antebellum plantation life. Julius' tales feature such supernatural elements as haunting, transfiguration, and conjuring, which were typical of Southern African-American folk tales.

See Stafford Battle on Amazon Books!

The New Face of Religion

A brief passage from my new book: The AFROFuturist Bible.  

After bravely protecting his beloved princess from a vicious attack by the local army militia, our hero continues revealing his tale with his usual literary flourish and generous sips of red wine. A congregation  has gathered on the Atlantic Ocean beach to hear him boldly preach. Bonfires were lit. Drummers and dancers celebrated. Food and booze.

He boomed:

"So, Judeo-Christianity is an African religion. Mami Wata, the Supreme African Matriarch, is the beginning of all spiritual thought. The crude Medieval European warlords usurped these beliefs to control their progressing peasant populations, who were realizing how to read and revolt. The International merchant classes sought to re-enforce the enslavement of human beings and create profit via various forms of bogus bibles and religious treatises and misguided doctrines. 

 

Pure Christianity started as a sensible reflection of life. Pure Islam and Hinduism, at least in the early scrolls, promoted peace and tolerance and interaction. All worldwide mythologies have African roots. But Europeans favored the artistic style and grace of Renaissance genius that strategically blotted out African and Asian influences. My parables clearly expose the failing fallacies of religion and mythology.”  

I stopped speaking to allow a moment of contemplation and more wine. Jesus loved wine. He was buzzed most of the time during his short life when he was preaching. He was a fun party guy. We all liked him and helped him with that big round rock when he died.

A passage from the AFROFuturist Bible by Stafford L Battle 

There are many aspects of religion and mythology that my book explores. For instance, there are common roots in mythology and religion that people don't like to talk about. Similar gods and saints, heroes and demons, cheating husbands and luscious vixens. Sacrifice (human and animal) is common. Worldwide floods are frequent. Droughts. There are real monsters and great wisdom. Anger and forgiveness. Resurrections. Retribution. Read.

It is available on Amazon!!

The New AFROCyberspace 2021

We Are Coming Back!

Hey! I got a great idea. Actually it was my wife's suggestion to bring back AFROCyberspace.What is AFROCyberspace? Years ago, Rey Harris (sadly deceased) and I wanted to promote the presence of people of color on the Internet (before the World Wide Web). With the help of McGraw-Hill, we published a book, and travelled the country to talk about cyberspace and how black and brown folks were taking of advantage of the new technology.

It was successful culturally, but not monetarily, however, it opened a lot of eyes and fueled ambition to stay focused. That was a good thing.

Life happens. We all get involved in a lot of stuff (two wonderful grandsons, etc, etc., ) so there were distractions good and bad.

But observing what is taking taking place, now, I believe that we need a new and improved AFROCyberspace based on Blockchain tech to ensure that the corporate feudal lords can't keep us poor and stupid barely surviving on choked bandwidth and faked news that allows the rich to get richer while most of us suffer, needlessly.

We need a new look and new avenues to expand into that are free from crass profit-driven greed. We need a plan.

Thus, the New AFROCyberspace is about to be born; open to everyone who thinks outside of the box and cares about their fellow citizens around the world.

More to come. . . . 

Congratulations to Cast and Crew of Nat Turner's Secret

 

It is wonderful to me how a short story I wrote almost a decade ago, is so appropriate today. Nat Turner's Secret was beautifully rendered using today's online technologies that we all are expanding into. The cast and crew are the daring cyber pioneers of the theatrical arts. Broadway has been shuttered. Live small theatre has all but evaporated. Families no longer meet for Sunday dinners or Saturday backyard BBQs. Some spouses sleep in different rooms to prevent spreading sickness to those closest to them. We may no longer be able to gather in person, but it is critical that we still gather to entertain, educate, encourage and enlighten online. That was accomplished. An audience anxiously awaiting Episode 2.

I greatly applaud the actors, director, producers and supporters who put the spotlight on my writing. 

Bravo! This is the first step. 

Sincerely

Stafford Levon Battle

Enjoy Episode One

On the Edge of the Abyss: Why I Wrote Nat Turner's Secret

 

We on the edge of falling into the abyss or rising to great heights.

If we consider how Black people in America have been treated since Nat Turner's Revolt in the 1800s, very little has substantially changed. Technologies have changed. Politics have become more polished and deceitful. The white ruling rich are much more powerful and scornful. People remain scared for many of the same reasons when Nat strode through the night like an avenging angel killing any opposition that stood in his path. 

It is often strange to me how a short story I wrote almost a decade ago, is so appropriate today. Nat Turner's Secret has been beautifully rendered using today's online dramatic technologies. Broadway has been shuttered. Live small theatre has all but evaporated. It is reckless to gather in groups. Families no longer meet for Sunday dinners or Saturday backyard parties. Some spouses sleep in different rooms to prevent sickness to those closest to them. We may no longer be able to gather in person, but it is critical that we still gather to educate, entertain, encourage and enlighten online. I greatly applaud the actors, director and producers who put the spotlight on my writing. 

Sometimes -- during those intense periods of mental funk that we all suffer when we think no one is observing us -- I see Obama as Nat Turner. Strong, good intentions, inspirational, willing to play by the system doing everything according to the American Dream. Yet, here we are in 2020. Riots. Anger. Injustice. Persecution.  

Nat never gave up nor surrendered even with an angry rope around his neck; he had a plan to pull us back from the abyss and into the light. 

I wrote an 8-episode series that reveals Nat's secrets, sorrows and joys. With the right impetus, we all can rise. 

Vote!

 

Support Nat Turner's Secret

 

Nat Turner's Secret -- Go Fund Me.

A live reading of Stafford Battle's tale of rituals, rage and  redemption is being performed by a cast of talented and experienced actors on September 23rd. 

This dramatic revolutionary drama  showcases the artistic talents of creators who express their views and solutions to inspire us all. 

We appreciate all your support and suggestions. You can be a part of this now.

The Greatest Super Villain: Dr. Anti-Science

The eruption of the deadly COVID-19 virus has exposed more than the extreme corruption in our world governments. The virus has revealed basic problems in our day-to-day society. A disturbingly large segment of people  (who don't understand or openly fear rational, scientific thought)  are likely refuse to consider the positive aspects of science fiction.

Apparently rational citizens who normally would be open to civil discussion on a variety of controversial topics now attack wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of a disease because medical scientists recommend the use of masks. 

Our respected and reputable technologists are the real super heroes. Anti-maskers are today's super villains -- Drs. Anti-Science.

Just a thought to consider. Read more sci-fi. 

 

Future Sexual Relationships: The Gender Revolution

 

After binge watching "Altered Carbon" on Netflix, I reached an epiphany: our society is fast approaching to a period where gender, race, age will become interchangeable. Scientists have already predicted that our minds can be digitalized and placed in any organic body or machine construct at a whim. 

Want to see how the other side lives? There will be no need for painful surgery. Transfer your mind to another host of your desire. 

Therefore, men can become women, women become men of any race and any age. Many people today claim they are trapped in the wrong body. No problem. Switch. And, if you want to . . . switch back.

Human beings are fickle creatures and often seek change merely for the novelty of doing something different. This is probably a good survival technique in evolution. Adapt, re-adapt, or die.

Some of us may find it difficult to embrace "fluid" sexual situations and are "hard-wired" for a particular lifestyle. Ask T-Rex about that. The majority of us are more flexible.

What is the cost? That is a big question mark. There will always be the rich and others who are not as rich. But fortunes are not always based on popular currencies.  What are you willing to sell or give up? 

Can you die and allow somebody new to be born? Will we be ourselves or a different creature? Are we a copy or the original?

Moreover, how do we deal with temporary or life-long relationships?  How will we cope if our wife of thirty years, decides to become our teenage husband? 

Tough questions. 

Altered Carbon was IMHO a fantastic book and fascinating Netflix online series. Lots of diversity in thought and characters. It speculates about a future that may not be too far away. Take a look. Consider the possibilities.

Science Fiction and Religion (Part 1 Super Heroes)

Super Heroes

If you want to start an argument at your favorite neighborhood tavern, backyard BBQ, church social or any city block in the country, suggest that religion and science fiction are comparable. If we are open minded, there is considerable intermingling in religion and sci-fi to ponder.

Gods and saints appear regularly in comic books with characters such as Thor, Hercules, Wonder Woman, Isis as well as the Judeo Christian God. Religious texts offer larger than life heroes such as Samson who, like Hercules, had tremendous strengths and multiple vulnerabilities. Moses could turn his staff into a snake. Jesus had amazing abilities including the ability to defy death like Deadpool or Wolverine.

Many "true believers" are willing to suspend belief and have faith that Superman could fly in a gravity well such as Earth's, or that Noah could cram hundreds of wild animals into a wooden boat outfitted with adequate feeding stations and waste disposal facilities. 

The major difference between sci-fi and religion is thus: science fiction is "fiction", made-up tales to inspire, guide and explore the glories and failures of humanity. The major religions consider their tenets and teachings as "nonfiction" and not to be challenged on threat of retribution by a supernatural being or fanatical followers. Likewise, religions seek to inspire, guide and explore the glories and failures of humanity. 

Not all sci-fi fans are atheists. Many consider that there is a higher being; a spiritual purpose and moral compass to follow. Church goers can go to movies and cheer the exploits of Spiderman or the Avengers and not feel that their faith is being challenged.

Science and technology has long inspired writers and artist to delve into sci-if. Historically, there are founders of religions who were real humans and crusaders with phenomenal abilities.

People of African descent have thousands of religious sects. Some of their deities have crossed over to the speculative fiction realm. Brother Voodoo is a good example. He was a Black sorcerer from Haiti who took over for Dr. Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme.

Black and brown societies are not strangers to amazing technology — there are engineering marvels throughout Africa and the Americas since ancient times. These scientists and technologists have produced  stories to be absorbed by the masses.

It is up to each person to chose what to believe in to feel whole. We need our super heroes in science fiction and religion. 

Wakanda Forever!

The Most Fearful Aspect of Sci-Fi

Science Fiction is highly political.

 

In the beginning,  Captain Nemo voyaged his futuristic submersible invention "The Nautilus" deep underwater during the 1800s to confront deep-sea monsters and vicious human greed.  Later, Samuel Delany gave us fantastic excursions throughout the Galaxy and into the depts of exploding stars and decaying civilizations in the award-winning novel Nova. Octavia Butler's final literary expeditions pushed readers into a cataclysmic new religion, failed government and persistent human survival.

Many sci-fi authors offer terrifying tales of dystopia. Read 1984 by George Orwell, The Iron Heel by Jack London, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein,  or Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. Likewise, George Schyler's classic Black Empire is essentially a retelling of a 2nd American Civil War on a global scale where (Spoiler Alert!)  Black people win, almost.

A plethora of writers has created vivid stories and world-building scenarios that deserve to be examined because of their futuristic visions of society and how we should be governed for good or bad. It can be argued that the innate appeal of Sc-Fi is its presentation of politics in the past, present, and future.

One of my favorite themes is Kirk(s)/Federation vs the Klingons. The Klingons are the most diverse, endearingly complicated humanoid species in all of Star Trek lore (next comes the Vulcan/Romulans closely followed by the Borg). In CBS's Picard,  powerful adult themes involving sex, race, and politics makes the series entertaining and thought-provoking (far beyond the childlike trivialities of Star Wars.)

In speculative fiction, we are experiencing the American Civil War and the contradictions of our inner selves over and over again in outer space and multi-universes. This creates artistic opportunities for new solutions to old problems.

Thoughts to Ponder: Politicians and elected officials need sci-fi to prepare a better future for all of us.  Read. Write. Perform. 

Coming Soon