The Rise of Black Sci-Fi

By: Angelique Latham

From Song of Solomon to Black Panther, fantasy books and sci-fi tropes that tackle black and brown issues are hardly new.

Many of the most popular science fiction stories are rife with social commentary, a collection of internal struggles and external challenges. Coined in the early nineties, the term Afrofuturism describes this intersection of cultural philosophy and science fiction, which has since continued to resonate within the pools of multi-generational imagination.

A pioneer of the genre, Octavia Butler penned one of the most successful books of all time, Kindred, intertwining time travel and slave narratives to tell the story of a black woman grappling with history in the 1970s. 

But why should we read about impossible situations or things that don’t exist? Why does fantasy, especially Black fantasy, matter?

As we find similarities between our world and the characters, the way we choose to empathize and teach each other about our experiences changes, and even evolves.

Twenty years ago, about 9 percent of children’s books were about people of color. In 2017, more than 4,000 books were published that had been either written by, or about Black and indigenous communities. 

For so many readers, thriller tales of romance, mystery, and horror dominate the list, but as Black protagonists deal with complex problems and the odd magical foil, this kind of literature encourages people to not only question the status quo, but inspires them to be creative. 

In an effort to uncover utopia, Martin Delany, an abolitionist and journalist, wrote what is considered to be the first Black Sci-fi novel, ‘Blake, or The Huts of America,’ in 1859. 

Over 150 years later, Black literature is still alight with themes of both trial, and triumph. 

Inside Dhionielle Clayton’s 2018 novel The Belles, characters confront hauntingly blunt depictions of perfection, working against themes of extreme body dysmorphia, and allegories to a time when Black people were often subjects of heinous medical experiments.

In a world where everyone is born grey, a select few have the power to manipulate beauty - for a price.  

From teacup animals to stunning ballgowns, The Belles serves as quite a stylish fantasy read, but for women and people of color, it’s a harrowing criticism on coerced labor, rebellion, the dangers of idle transformation, and happiness.

As for the growing future of diverse science fiction, it’s only up from here.