Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy, and artistic movement that explores the intersection of the African diaspora with science fiction, technology, and speculative fantasy. It re-examines the past and envisions liberated, empowered futures for Black life through a non-Western cultural lens. The movement spans across multiple creative disciplines to heal historical traumas and create agency.
Dr. Aiesha Turman holds an Interdisciplinary PhD with a major in Humanities and Culture with certificates in Creative Writing and Women’s and Gender Studies from The Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, OH. Her dissertation, There’s Always Been an Afrofuture: Black Women’s Literature as Technology of Protest, explores the Black feminist literary genealogy of Afrofuturism and is part of her broader interest in Black pasts as the key to Black Futures.
She’s taught English and Africana Studies at NY City College of Technology, Hunter College , Nassau County Community College , and is a new faculty member in the Writing & Critical Inquiry Program at the University at Albany.
Dr. Turman’s research explores the rich intersections of African American history, culture, and speculative futures. Her work explores the lived experiences and cultural practices of African and African Diaspora communities through the innovative lens of Afrofuturism, envisioning future scenarios that center on Black experiences, histories, and imaginations.
As a trauma and memory theorist, she investigates the profound impacts of historical and contemporary traumas on individual and collective memory, examining how these memories are formed, represented, and reconciled. Through her interdisciplinary approach, Dr. Turman aims to illuminate the resilience and creativity of Black communities while addressing critical issues of identity, power, and social justice.