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Black People in Space: Speculative Sci-fi

I've wasn't going to post this because it's a bunch or rambling. But after reading this article from Cory Doctorow, it changed my opinion on these ramblings.  


 What will it be like to be Black in space? Because y'all know we will be there. 

It may be ugly, magnifying humanitarian injustices we face on Earth. Can you imagine it going unchecked in the infinite universe? Running rampant in hidden sectors, creating isolated bubbles of continual subjugation? We may be limited to a seperate part of an infinite galaxy. Or be contract slaves transported between planets and outpost. 

It's easy to distopianize the Black experience in space. The past seems to reinvent and recreate itself within tight loops for Black folx. Why wouldn't the same racial and cultural injustices follow us into the great expanse? 

Maybe the ever present threat of death by vacuum could squash racial injustices? Maybe the bombardment of microaggressions would cease to exist once we were amongst the stars. Maybe being courteous to service providers would be not only common but damn near a religion. Be nice to your robot's handler or they will reprogram your bots. Sanitation engineers would be small town ministers, everyone is happy to see them and everyone knows the type of pull they have in their zero-g community. You do want your waste spaced right?

But how will Black people exist in space? Maybe we will be space gurus, finding positive understanding of what it means to be blasted away from the unseen skin-tone rules and regulations of Earth. Can't you see space traveling Black motivators sharing the best ways to live holistic lives in the cosmos? Pastors, yogis, and faith healers all converging to make space for...well space. Space to heal from past traumas. Space to conjure ways to reimagine space in this new infinite cosmic arena.  

Maybe Black people's talent for creating community will be amplified in space. With mankind spread across the Milky Way and new beings coming into our galaxy, there will need to be a place for common ground. Intergalactic art shows with unfathomable moving and explosive light displays. Or maybe we would be the ultimate peacemakers hosting events with musical artist that find distaste with our government but love our people. And we would love them back too. All converging within the comforts of our individual space transport.


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