A Parent’s Resource: Using Afrofuturism to Build Limitless Futures

F for Focused Art

My love for comics is a gift from my father. He loved Luke Cage. I fell in love with the X-Men. Today, that legacy lives on in my own family. My brother is Peter Parker, both of my sons are Miles Morales, and my daughter is Ghost-Spider most days, though she’s recently asserted that she is Sue Storm. Marvel runs deep in this house, a universe of possibilities passed down through generations.

This is the heart of “Focused Art,” the ‘F’ in AFRO parenting. It’s about more than just enjoying a movie or a comic book; it’s about intentional engagement with art that expands our reality. The two differences between merely consuming art and leaning into Focused Art are intention and action. This is where Afrofuturism becomes a practical tool for liberation in our parenting.

So, what is Afrofuturism? It’s a genre, a philosophy, and an aesthetic that centers the Black diaspora in the past, present, and future, engaging in liberating and empowering activities. It provides an inspirational future that acknowledges the struggles that Black and female bodies have always been under in this country, without centering those stories of attack. The transformative power of afrofuturistic art allows us to transcend personal struggles and articulate unique identities. It operates on a powerful principle: The liberation of the mind always precedes that of the body.

For parents looking for an entry point, comics are an excellent and accessible medium for exploring alternative realities, histories, and futures. I once spoke to a writer for Disney Adventures magazine who said comics were his personal roadway to literacy. They offer a powerful visual language that can spark a child’s imagination. Living here in Oakland, my family and I fell in love with Ironheart, especially knowing one of the lead writers for the show is from our city. It brings the future home.

The J Squad is growing up in a world where Black people, science, and technology go together like Princess Shuri and vibranium. Unlike when I was a kid and images of Black people in super dope audio-visual stuff were few and far between, my children have no reason to believe that their descendants will not make it into the future. Representation matters, and because of this burst in recent years, my children believe that they truly can do anything.

Here’s how you can intentionally use these stories to expand your children’s sense of what’s possible:

• Discuss Their World: After reading a comic or watching a show like Ironheart, ask: “What do you think their world is like in the future? What problems did they solve that we still have today?” This encourages critical thinking about progress and their role in it.
• Connect to Their Power: Prompt them with questions about identity and agency. “If you were a superhero from our neighborhood, what would your name be? What would your special power be, and how would you use it to help people here?
• Encourage Creation: The goal is to move from consumption to creation. You will find it so transformative to create opportunities for your children to express themselves creatively, completely free from your evaluation. Ask them to draw their own superhero or write a one-page comic about their adventures. This simple act builds their creative confidence.
• Model Creativity: This work isn’t just for the kids. Make a deliberate effort to explore spaces where you, as an individual independent of your children, can express yourself creatively. Your own liberation and self-expression are the most powerful models you can offer.

My first cognizant contact with afrofuturistic art was Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker in 1988. It blew my five-year-old mind. I just knew that every moment was a delight in imagination and I wanted to live in that world. This is the feeling I strive to cultivate for my children.

Focused Art, along with Active Brains, provides the roadmap for building this kind of metacognition as a family. This is the brain work before the action.

Next, we’ll explore Real Experiences and Opportunities, where we put our new sense of self into action in the world.