Olamina FreeNov 13, 2022
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) will debut a major, thought-provoking new exhibition, “Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures,” March 24, 2023. Investigating Afrofuturist expression through art, music, activism and more, this exhibition explores and reveals Afrofuturism’s historic and poignant engagement with African American history and popular culture.
https://nmaahc.si.edu/about/news/national-museum-african-american-history-and-culture-announces-new-exhibition-exploring
National Museum of African American History and Culture Announces New Exhibition Exploring Stories and Futures of Black Liberation

The thought-provoking exhibition, “Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures,” debuts on March 24, 2023 and investigates Afrofuturist expression through art, music, activism and more.

National Museum of African American History and Culture
Show threadPiper CarterNov 22, 2022
@olamina part of me is super excited about this and another part of me is thinking about co-option and capitalism and elitism in art
Show threadOlamina FreeNov 24, 2022
@pipercarter
Yeah. I was part of the Afrofuturism list serve in the 90s...when I reached out to my old friends from there about this, the mood was mostly cynical.
I don't love the curation in that museum. The building itself is cool tho!
Show threadPiper CarterNov 24, 2022
@olamina are you a part of this project? I’m genuinely interested in it. I’m a 50 year old GenX-er: a 70’s & 80’s ex-latch-key kid who indulged in collecting vinyl & studying album art & liner notes. I grew up in the African-centered community & my parents & some of my family were artists in the Black Arts & Black Liberation Movements. I was a part of the culture in the 90’s in NYC. Experiencing AfroFuturism’s & AfroPunk’s co-option & commercialization was heartbreaking.
Show threadOlamina Free
@pipercarter
I remember when James Spooner started Afropunk and I was hanging around that circle here in NYC. It's a shame what happened there.
Nov 25, 2022 at 1:29pmWeb
Show threadPiper CarterNov 25, 2022
@olamina yeah. I caught up with Spooner when he came to Detroit a couple of years ago. He respectfully wouldn’t speak on anything AfroPunk but he did say how hurt he was about the snatch & switch of the purpose, the turn towards complete capitalism, the exclusion of the punk elements & culture & co-option. I wonder if you & I have ever crossed paths back then? My cousin’s AfroLatina band was called Sweetie. I photographed their promo pics & video.