Fifo KaswitiJul 2, 2023
Nnedi Okorafor

I’ve been rewatching this footage and thinking on it. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone in space wearing non-western inspired attire. The image deconstructs a lot of things that up to now I had only been deconstructing in my imagination and stories or other stories.

Just wanted to voice my thoughts on this. I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking it. It reminds me of how westernized the very idea of space travel and exploration is.

Jul 1, 2023 at 8:30pmWeb
Show threadarclightJul 1, 2023
@nnedi Dr. Spacejunk (Alice Gorman) spent a good part of her book on space archaeology raising questions about (say) who gets to name planets, comets, craters, who is the experience of space travel and exploration limited to. I'm sure your to-read pile is overflowing but IMO her book is very readable and insightful: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262539654/dr-space-junk-vs-the-universe/
Dr Space Junk vs The Universe

A pioneering space archaeologist explores artifacts left behind in space and on Earth, from moon dust to Elon Musk's red sports car.Alice Gorman is a space a...

MIT Press
Show threadJust BobyJul 1, 2023
@nnedi Oh wow! I’ve missed this one this is great! Eid Al Adha greeting from space!
Show threadbouriquetJul 1, 2023
@nnedi This is entirely possible in our future. Exploration is not and was never the exclusive realm of Western society, especially if you reach back far enough into history: Phonecians, Chinese, Vikings, Sumerians, Polynesians.
Pendulums swing as empires rise and fall.
Nothing is ever constant.
We are living in The Age of Change.
Be prepared.
Show threadNnedi OkoraforJul 1, 2023
@bouriquet you neglected to mention the entire continent of Africa.
Show threadbouriquetJul 1, 2023
@nnedi you are correct, I did forget…I had considered mentioning an astronaut passenger wearing dress of Africa but couldn’t decide what area or nation since Africa is so diverse as a continent. And I just learned about Abu Bakar II, something not taught in schools!
Show threadEmilyJul 1, 2023
@nnedi this is so cool to see! I never realized how much of my perception of space is probably entirely shaped by western movies and TV.
Show threadLucyKemnitzerJul 1, 2023
@nnedi There really is a lot to think about in that clip. The clothes to start with, but everything about his speech h the expression on his face, his gestures, the doll. Thanks so much for posting it, I didn't see it in my al Jazeera feed!
Show threadIncident Creator ❎Jul 1, 2023
@nnedi
The Chinese might disagree on that one.
@marthawells
Show threadT.C. HarrisJul 1, 2023
@nnedi It says something (not good) about me that it took a moment to understand that "western inspired attire" didn't mean like cowboy boots.
Show threadGary ParkerJul 2, 2023
@nnedi my partner is a Teaching Assistant in a school with a lot of Muslim kids in a relatively poor area. I showed her this and she’s going to show it to them; inspirational stuff!
Show threadDwight Williams (💉 x9)+😷🇨🇦Jul 2, 2023

@witewulf @nnedi Yes.

Space should be for *everyone* who wants to go exploring it. This video is - to my mind - a positive, pleasant reminder of that fact.

Show threadPirateJoieJul 11, 2023
@nnedi WOW, that was beautiful! I want more different languages and genders and stuff!