List of Afrofuturist literature

Afrofuturism, as a genre, describes fictional works which encompass Black science fiction and may engage with any and all structural elements of the broader umbrella of subgenres (horror, fantasy, magical realism, historical fiction, etc.) classified under Black speculative fiction.

Afrofuturist literary works resist singular notions of a “Black” cultural experience. Instead, Afrofuturist narratives draw upon a variety of ethnic, national, regional histories and cosmologies, as well as indigenous religious frameworks. Thematically, Afrofuturist literature delves into revisionist or alternative history making, while galvanizing conversations on social injustice and Black liberation. Afrofuturist literature investigates questions of Black intellectual production, materiality, and intellectual ownership, while reimagining the potential futures of individuals within the Afrodiaspora.

The emerging genre of Afrofuturist literature is influenced by two strands, Afro-pessimism and Black optimism. Afro-pessimism asserts that the violence of colonialism and slavery contributes to a definition of Blackness as a state of non-being. In this state, Black individuals exist within and yet are alienated from the rest of society. In Afrofuturist literature, Afro-pessimism underscores a bleak view of futurity and any inherent possibility for Black self-determination and social advancement. In contrast, Black optimism reconsiders Blackness after slavery and colonialism relative to modernity, technology, and culture. Black optimism emphasizes Blackness as a complete and holistic state of being. It rejects the essentialism and inherent abjectness of socially-determined “Blackness” as portrayed in Afro-pessimism. Within the context of Afrofuturist literature, the Black imaginary and its creative expression are essential pivot points for self-determining futurity.

List of Afrofuturist literature

Author(s)/Editor(s) Year TitleButler, Octavia1979KindredCharles R. Saunders1981ImaroDu Bois, W. E. B.1920Darkwater: Voices from Within the VeilEllison, Ralph1952Invisible ManHopkinson, Nalo1998Brown Girl in the RingJemisin, N.K.2015The Fifth SeasonDue, Tananarive1997My Soul to KeepFarmer, Nancy1994The Ear, the Eye and the ArmWilson, Kai Ashante2015The Sorcerer of the WildeepsJames, Marlon2019Black Leopard, Red WolfSchuyler, George1931Black No MoreAdeyemi, Tomi2018Children of Blood and BoneTutuola, Amos1952The Palm-Wine DrinkardCallender, Kacen2019Queen of the ConqueredJohnson, Mat2011PymOkri, Ben1991The Famished RoadDeonn, Tracy2020LegendbornWhitehead, Colson2011Zone OneBayron, Kalynn2020Cinderella is DeadIfueko, Jordan2020RaybearerMonáe, Janelle2022The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty ComputerClarke, Matthew; Lynch, Nigel2021HardearsFielder, Tim2021Infinitum: An Afrofuturist TaleCampbell, Bill; Hall, Edward Austin 2013Mothership: Tales from Afrofuturism and BeyondOlayiwola, Porsha2019i shimmer sometimes, tooReed, Ishmael1972Mumbo JumboLord, Karen2014The Galaxy GameOkupe, Roye2015E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale WIlliamsJohnson, Dawn Alaya 2020Trouble The Saints Kwame, Mbalia2020Tristian Strong Destroys the World Banks, Leslie2003The Vampire Huntress Legend Series: MinionMbalia, Kwame2019Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the SkyIreland, Justina2018Dread NationJames, Marlon2022Moon Witch, Spider KingBarnes, Steven2002Lion's BloodAllen, Jeffery Renard2014Song of the ShankJackson, Kosoko2022Survive the Dome Forma, Namina2021The Gilded OnesShawl, Nisi2016EverfairNisi Shawl2008Filter HouseHairston, Andrea2006MindscapeBroaddus, Maurice2022Sweep of StarsIreland, Justina2020Deathless DivideOkorafor, Nnedi2015BintiSolomon, Rivers2017An Unkindness of GhostsDelany, Martin R.1859Blake; or the Huts of AmericaThomas, Sheree R.2000Dark Matter (prose anthologies)Chesnutt, Charles1899The Conjure WomanTurnbull, Cadwell2021No Gods, No MonstersMosley, Walter2001FuturelandThomas, Sheree2022Africa RisenDrew, Kimberly; Wortham, J2020Black FuturesClarke, Matthew; Lynch, Nigel2021Hardears: A Graphic NovelJesse J. Holland2017Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther?Onyebuchi, Tochi2017Beasts Made of NightSamuel R. Delany1975DhalgrenAllen; Cherelle2019Black From the Future: A Collection of Black Speculative WritingSutton E. Griggs1899Imperium in Imperio P. Djèlí Clark2020Ring shoutC. L. Polk2020The Midnight BargainCadwell Turnbull2019The LessonCadwell Turnbull2023We Are the Crisis

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