An Afrofuturist dreams of Black liberations: Disentangling blackness from fatalism

In this chapter, Toliver creatively builds on Isiah Lavender’s theoretical description of the Black networked consciousness to explore the ways in which Afrofuturism makes space for the simultaneous discussion of Black pasts, presents, and futures. Specifically, she engages in a narrative interweaving of storytelling and story listening to detail her educational experiences as a Black girl in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools and describe how she relied upon Afrofuturists, family members, Black scholars, and ancestors to navigate an anti-Black school system. In sharing her story, Toliver asks education researchers and practitioners to consider what it would mean for Black girls to have the space to stretch their imaginations and tell their stories. Further, she asks educational stakeholders to consider their role as story listeners, those responsible for listening to and engaging with Black girls’ narratives.