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The problem of amalgamation isn't uniquely Black American (fantasy worldbuilding post-Tolkien; USA's founding mythologies), although I agree it's a problem for us.
I guess...I have to write about this. (There are aspects of "Wakandafication" that I haven't seen anyone mention.)
I guess...I have to write about this. (There are aspects of "Wakandafication" that I haven't seen anyone mention.)
In fact, I already HAVE written about this, but it's an academic article. 
https://www.academia.edu/43229119/Notes_toward_a_Black_Fantastic_Black_Atlantic_Flights_Beyond_Afrofuturism_in_Young_Adult_Literature
https://www.academia.edu/43229119/Notes_toward_a_Black_Fantastic_Black_Atlantic_Flights_Beyond_Afrofuturism_in_Young_Adult_Literature
I have more to say, though. I really appreciated Jade Bentil's coining of the term "Wakandafication," and learned a lot from this essay from last year. https://africasacountry.com/2019/09/beyonces-heart-of-darkness
Critique sharpens your thought process. I will say that if weâre going to start critiquing Black US imagination, a book from 20 years ago that I learned about from Black historian friends absolutely needs to be considered in these critiques: Wilson Julian Mosesâ AFROTOPIA.
Most of the essays I've read about Black Panther and Black Is King completely sever these highly commodified Afrofuturistic / Black SFF artistic productions - none of which existed when I was conducting the research for TDF -- from the history of Black US fantastic tradition.
The next SFF critical book I want to write is going to trace a tradition that parallels the dark fantastic cycle. But I honestly think that while those of us here need to be careful with our "Americanisms," and listen to what others are saying about our amalgamated dreams...
...there's a reason other than "we want to be oppressors just like the White people" for that amalgamation.
The one thing I'll share that I'm writing about now is what you *do* if you're literally -- in every strand of your DNA -- an amalgamated African. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/science/23andme-african-ancestry.html?smid=tw-share
The one thing I'll share that I'm writing about now is what you *do* if you're literally -- in every strand of your DNA -- an amalgamated African. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/science/23andme-african-ancestry.html?smid=tw-share
"Historical evidence shows enslaved people in the United States & the British Caribbean were taken from a larger number of regions of Africa [than those in Latin America]. Their descendants today show a genetic connection to people in 6 regions in Africa." https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/science/23andme-african-ancestry.html
3 current dilemmas of Black North American mythopoesis seem to be:
1) The quantum dilemma (spacetime).
2) The amalgamation dilemma (ancestry & ethnic authenticity).
3) The palimpsest dilemma (retentions & cultural authenticity).
I'll chew these up in a second piece, I guess.
1) The quantum dilemma (spacetime).
2) The amalgamation dilemma (ancestry & ethnic authenticity).
3) The palimpsest dilemma (retentions & cultural authenticity).
I'll chew these up in a second piece, I guess.
Meanwhile, let me throw this thread into my Notes.
