ABHM Book Club Presents: Afro Futurism: A History of Black Futures

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An NAACP flyer campaigning for the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 1922, but was filibustered to defeat in the Senate. Dyer, the NAACP, and freedom fighters around the country, like Flossie Baily, struggled for years to get the Dyer and other anti-lynching bills passed, to no avail. Today there is still no U.S. law specifically against lynching. In 2005, eighty of the 100 U.S. Senators voted for a resolution to apologize to victims' families and the country for their failure to outlaw lynching. Courtesy of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Some Exhibits to Come – One Hundred Years of Jim Crow

Bibliography – One Hundred Years Of Jim Crow

Claude, age 23, just months before his 1930 murder. Courtesy of Faith Deeter.

Freedom’s Heroes During Jim Crow: Flossie Bailey and the Deeters

Souvenir Portrait of the Lynching of Abram Smith and Thomas Shipp, August 7, 1930, by studio photographer Lawrence Beitler. Courtesy of the Indiana Hisorical Society.

An Iconic Lynching in the North

Claxton Dekle – Prosperous Farmer, Husband & Father of Two

Ancient manuscripts about mathematics and astronomy from Timbuktu, Mali

Some Exhibits to Come – African Peoples Before Captivity

Shackles for Adults & Children from the Henrietta Marie

Some Exhibits to Come – The Middle Passage

What I Saw Aboard a Slave Ship in 1829

Life After Hate: A Former White Power Leader Redeems Himself

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May 20, 2023

Upcoming Event

America’s Black Holocaust Museum’s founder, Dr. James Cameron, was an avid reader and inspiring writer and educator. In his honor, we created this book club in November of 2020 to bring together a community of all backgrounds to learn about and discuss our collective past, modern manifestations of racism, and how we create racial repair, reconciliation, and healing for a better future.

This in person book club meet up is developed in partnership with HYFIN radio, a media movement from Radio Milwaukee that is dedicated to playing the full spectrum of Black music and connecting the culture. Our book selection is Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which we will discuss on June 21st at 6 PM CT via ABHM. Doors will open at 5:30 PM CT.

We’ll together explore the captivating world of Afrofuturism. This groundbreaking book delves into the exciting concept that imagines a future where black identity is celebrated and empowered through music, art, and speculative fiction. With sumptuous spreads featuring 100 stunning illustrations showcasing iconic objects such as T’Challa’s suit from Black Panther or Janelle Monae’s ArchAndroid dress – this book will leave you in awe.

Each chapter features essays by diverse scholars who explore themes like legacy, alienation, activism while also profiling influential people and objects. From space to short stories; comics to superheroes; visual culture to music – every aspect of Afrofuturist expression is covered here!

At its core lies an urgent message for our times- one that offers hope amidst increasing visibility against oppressive structures like white supremacy. Join us on this journey towards liberation!

The ABHM Book Club is free and open to all who are able to attend, although the books will need to be purchased by each participant. They are available at Niche Book Bar, Boswell Books, and all major book sellers. If you are having trouble finding a copy, please email: admin@abhmuseum.org.

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