‘Tales Of Wakanda’ Event Hosted By Dillard Highlights The Wonderment Of Afrofuturism

From Dillard University:

March 2, 2o21

By Eddie Francis

William Shelton had an active imagination as a child, but there was a particular creative
style that caught his attention. He couldn’t describe it, but it took his imagination
to another level. “I often visualized myself in these alternate worlds,” says the
junior English major from Nashville. At first, he saw examples of the genre in comic
books then, he says, it expanded to music. “Childish Gambino’s ‘Awaken My Love’ and
‘3.15.20’ are huge favorites of mine. I’m also a big fan of Janelle Monáe’s ‘Dirty
Computer.’”

When asked about other Dillard University students who are into the mysterious genre,
Shelton isn’t so sure that others on campus share his appreciation. He is wrong.

The genre is Afrofuturism. It is an African diaspora-inspired technological, futuristic cultural style that permeates literature, music, fashion and other creative areas. The term was coined by author and critic Mark Dery in 1994. Some figures of Afrofuturism include authors Octavia
Butler, Samuel R. Delany and N.K. Jemisin as well as music artists Monáe (who served
as Dillard’s commencement speaker in 2017), Erykah Badu and Missy Elliott. It should
be noted that the modern Afrofuturism movement was heavily inspired by the music of
jazz composer Sun Ra and funk music legends Parliament. There is also the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat and the photography of Renée Cox.

The world is going to get a healthy dose of Afrofuturism with the release of “Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda.” An event to celebrate the release of the anthology will take place at 5 p.m. CST (6
p.m. EST) March 10 on Zoom. Hosted by Dillard’s Department of English and School of Humanities, the event will consist of a panel discussion that will be facilitated by Dr. Mona
Lisa Saloy, professor of English.

Kim McMillon, who will be teaching a course on Afrofuturism in the summer at the University of California Merced, is also excited. She is a publicist who felt that Dillard would be an ideal
host. “We had to do this at an HBCU.”

It was McMillon’s familiarity with Saloy and her work as a literary scholar that made Dillard her top pick. Saloy believes that Dillard is an appropriate kickoff host because of the University’s reputation for “raising writers.” She points to her former student and Pulitzer Prize winning poet Jericho Brown, former Louisiana poet laureate Brenda Marie Osbey and Tom Dent. “Jericho generously credits ‘Fair Dillard’ as his training ground as a professional writer,” she says.

To read the full press release, click here.

This press release was produced by Dillard University. The views expressed are the author's own.