Musings on A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine

I love performances that keep me thinking about them long after they’re over. I alluded to this here on the blog when I saw Dana Michele: Yellow Towel and Okwui Okpokwasili’s Bronx Gothic at the Contemporary Arts Center. It recently happened again after I watched Napoleon Maddox workshop “A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine” at Chase Public last week.

Upcoming What Does the Future Look Like? Events

Midwest BSFA is hosting/co-hosting a series of workshops in preparation for a February art showcase on Afrofuturism. We’re pegging the showcase for Black History Month because as a society, we always talk about the past experiences of African-Americans during that month, but with this event, we’d like to focus on their futures. What Does the Future Look Like? will give kids, teens and young adults the chance to show us their interpretations of what the future looks like for black people. 

What Midwest BSFA Means to Me

It’s been a full two years since I reached out to some of my favorite people to ask them if they’d be interested in being part of a local group that focuses on programming for, by and about African-Americans in the genres that fall under speculative fiction. I’ve had a blast creating and executing programs with them and I’m looking forward to doing more of that in 2017 and beyond! Here’s what they had to say about their involvement in the little spec fic group that could.

Projects I’m Supporting, Part Deux

“Just waiting for the dominant culture to bestow equality, recognition, and acceptance upon marginalized groups is a sucker’s bet.”

That comment was made on a story about the launch of the “People of Colo(u)r Destroy Science Fiction!” Kickstarter campaign from earlier this year. It was in response to someone else on the thread saying that being “gimmicky” is fine until you’re too gimmicky and then you “become BET.” (As if diversity and inclusion are “gimmicky.” *scoff*) I’m a firm believer in the importance of supporting the projects you’d like to see in the world so nonsensical statements like this one don’t phase me. I’m just going to keep putting my money where my mouth is. If you can afford it, you should, too. Here are a few more projects I’m supporting as we head into 2017.  

Midwest BSFA Celebrates Its Second Anniversary!

We made it around the sun once again and today, the Midwest Black Speculative Fiction Alliance celebrates its second anniversary! This has been a whirlwind of a year, full of programs and conversations and debates and friendship building and I look forward to more in 2017!

Here’s a short recap of what we got up to this year:

• In April, we chatted with University of Cincinnati Professor Charles Jones about Afrofuturism 2.0: The Rise of Astro-Blackness, the book he co-edited with Reynaldo Anderson, co-founder of the Black Speculative Arts Movement. I also made my second appearance on the BLKBOARD podcast.
• In May, we had a table at the Cincinnati Library Comic Con at the main branch. We did trivia on the show’s black recurring characters and guest stars.
• In June, we hosted the 2nd Queen City Black Comix Day, showcasing local and regional comics artists and creators. We were also featured on Ghettoblaster Magazine‘s website.
• In September, we had a table at MECCACon in Detroit and hosted a steampunk character building workshop for adults.
• In October, we hosted a sci-fi short film night in honor of Black Speculative Fiction Month.
• In November, we hosted a panel on cyberfunk at Pandoracon, a three-day sci-fi convention in Cincinnati. I also served as the Queen of Diamonds for the event.

Thanks to the rest of the Midwest BSFA crew for making these last two years so much! I look forward to doing bigger and better programming with you in the years to come!

Napoleon Maddox Talks About “A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine”

We recently talked to Midwest BSFA member Napoleon Maddox about his Dec. 18 event “A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine,” a performance that will merge the real lives of Millie-Christine McKoy (subjects of his upcoming show, Twice the First Time) with Octavia Butler’s science fiction character, Dana, from the novel Kindred. 

Interview with Author Valjeanne Jeffers

Indie author Valjeanne Jeffers Skyped in to participate in our cyberfunk panel at Pandoracon last month. Midwest BSFA recently talked to her about her nerdom, her writing career, and operating in  predominately-white, predominately-male genres. 

And I’ll Be Gone Til…December (November Recap)

Hey hey hey! After a couple of cons and a much-needed holiday break, we’re back like cooked crack! (But, um, far less addictive/destructive.) November was hectic, y’all. HECTIC. Check out what we and our friends were up to last month!