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707
June 5, 2020

We Are in the Future

In this moment of sorrow, protest, and rage in the wake of George Floyd’s death, we offer this as a break from the dreadful present: our show about Afrofuturism. It’s a way of looking at Black culture that’s fantastic and hopeful, which feels especially urgent during a time without a lot of optimism. Featuring the song "The Deep" by clppng.

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  • Transcript

Paul Davey

This is an updated version of an episode from 2017.

Prologue

Prologue

Ira and producer Neil Drumming visit a comic book store in Philadelphia to try and help Ira understand Afrofuturism. (9 minutes)

By

Neil Drumming
Act One

Metropolis Now

Producer Neil Drumming spends a couple days exploring Detroit, first with a quirky mayoral candidate running an Afrofuturist campaign, and then with a couple of locals. (12 minutes)

By

Neil Drumming

Song:

“Right In” by Bryce Detroit (feat. Coco Butterfli)
Act Two

Past Imperfect

Comedian and actor Azie Dungey recounts her time playing a slave for visiting tourists at George Washington’s estate in Mount Vernon. (12 minutes)

By

Azie Dungey

Song:

“Wake Up” by Funkadelic
Act Three

The Black Sea

This American Life commissioned an original song, “The Deep,” from the hip-hop group clppng., featuring actor and Hamilton performer Daveed Diggs. The song is based on the underwater mythology of the 90s Detroit electro band Drexciya. (6 minutes)

Act Four

Childhood’s End

Producer Neil Drumming looks into two videos he found on YouTube—one that takes place in Atlantic City, another in Brooklyn—that deal with the trouble kids face walking home from school. (13 minutes)

By

Neil Drumming

Song:

“Errbody Is Going to Make It” by Funkadelic

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There’s one thing that has been proven to cut the achievement gap between black and white students by half: integration.

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Simulated Worlds

Civil War reenactments, wax museums, simulated coal mines, fake ethnic restaurants, an ersatz Medieval castle, and other re-created worlds that thrive all across America.

This American Life

This American Life is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange.

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