Black Futures

Adult nonfiction 

"Our process: we worked together and independently to collect these submissions.  On these pages, you'll find screenshots, original essays, manifestos, memes, artwork, poems, song lyrics, recipes, and creations of all types.  Themes in this book will provoke you, entice you, enrage you, spark joy, and call you to action."

     Back in my teens a popular song told us that the magical mystery tour was coming to take us away.  That refrain kept running through my mind as I hopscotched my way through Black Futures.  Editors Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham wanted to put together an exploration of what being Black and alive at this point in time is about.  They enlisted something like a hundred artists in just about any medium or genre you can imagine.  Opening the book is like strolling into a theme park about the size of Boston.

     In my mind one of the coolest things about the book is that you aren't obligated to plow through it front to back.  Do your reading in any way that engages you.  Take the sections in any order that makes sense to you.  Savor pictures that amaze you.  Look up more information if your curiosity is piqued.  Get up and make that coconut sweetbread if it seems to good to resist.  (It is).

     This isn't a book to read and set aside.  It's one to come back to for fresh insight and inspiration again and again and again.

On a purrrsonal note, Joey and I hung out at Wilson Center with one of his good friends.  Eugene was running errands when he picked me up so he got to meet (and fall in love with) Tobago who was her most sweet, social self.  We watched a series of shows about two very young brothers who were trying to get home.  There were talking animals and characters who looked straight out of fairy tales but rather sophisticated humor.  We had Halloween candy and tea.  It was a sweet, mellow way to spend an afternoon. (Jules)

Halloween is tomorrow.  I hope that means cat treats for good kitties.  (Tobago who is a very good kittie)

A great big shout out goes out to our good friend, Joey.

How about you, readers?  Are you all ready for Halloween?

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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