Black Imagination: Black Voices on Black Futures

Written by Natasha Marin

Narrated by Daveed Diggs and Lena Waithe

Recommended by Jason Reynolds on PBS News Hour

“Don’t think for one minute that Black Imagination is easy. As you will read here, it is hard-earned and sometimes dangerous, but it’s necessary, and radical, to claim and work towards. Listening to my people in this book gave me so much life, and I’m pretty sure, dear reader, you’re in for the same.” —from the Foreword by Steven Dunn

“Witnessing is sacred work too. Seeing ourselves as whole and healthy is an act of pure rebellion in a world so titillated by our constant subjugation,” reflects viral curator Natasha Marin, on Black Imagination.

This dynamic collection of Black voices, performed by Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor, rapper, and producer Daveed Diggs and Emmy Award-winning writer, creator, producer, and actor Lena Waithe, works like an incantation of origin, healing, and imagination.

Born from a series of conceptual art exhibitions, the perspectives gathered here are no where near monochromatic. “Craving nuance over stereotype, we sought out black children, black youth, LGBTQ+ black folks, unsheltered black folks, incarcerated black folks, neurodivergent black folks, as well as differently-abled black folks.” Each insists on their own variance and challenges every listener to witness for themselves that Black Lives (and Imaginations) Matter.

"A first step toward freeing ourselves."—Gloria Steinem

"I've never felt the physical feeling of pages melting in my hands or chapters folding themselves into squadrons of black airplanes flying to freedom because I've never experienced an art object like Black Imagination."—Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy

“Black Imagination required Natasha Marin to curate as a curate in the medieval sense— a spiritual guide that cares for souls... We are challenged to move beyond the abject, beyond pure pessimism, on the wings of a different criticality... 'visioning a world where none is lonely, none hunted, alien'.” —Christian Campbell, author of Running the Dusk

"Defiantly hopeful... think Soul Train Line, think The Stroll, think the joyous striving with language for the possibilities of safety and hope.” —Kwame Dawes, author of Nebraska

Cover art by Vanessa German.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Everand Productions
• Release date: Mar 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094412825

Natasha Marin

Natasha Marin is the curator of Black Imagination: Black Voices on Black Futures (McSweeney's, 2020). Marin is also a conceptual artist whose people-centered projects have circled the globe since 2012 and have been recognized and acknowledged by Art Forum, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, NBC, Al Jazeera, Vice, PBS and others. In 2018, the City of Seattle and King County have backed BLACK IMAGINATION-- a series of conceptual exhibitions—amplifying, centering, and holding sacred a diverse sample of voices including LGBTQIA+ black youth, incarcerated black women, black folks with disabilities, unsheltered black folks, and black children. Her viral web-based project, Reparations, engaged a quarter of a million people worldwide in the practice of leveraging privilege,"" and earned Marin, a mother of two, death threats by the dozens. Find out more about her work online: Black-Imagination.com.""

Reviews for Black Imagination

[Lauren Powell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Even better on the second read. I love this book, I love hearing about better worlds.

[Elizabeth Clayborne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Exactly what my spirit needed. And I think what we all need, especially as people of the global majority. Space and encouragement to imagine ourselves and our future for ourselves

[Maggie Smith Maiden · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a great read . I liked the creative ways the story and backgrounds were being told

[brenda · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good and uplifting the poems and narrators observations are inspiring

[Heather Matherson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

loved the diverse perspectives on Black Imagination. Definitely felt privileged to experience such a unique creation of words.

[Joycelyn Peyton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fraser hopwood, you should stop rating books you haven’t read.

[inezeaton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

We cannot continue using all of these identifiers ! Has everyone forgotten about the old strategy to “divide and conquer” ?! Even racism boils down to policies of the elite. We have more in common with the straight, white and male as long as they’re in our social class/ wealth bracket than we do with any black or brown elite. Every identifier, every attempt to prove one’s individuality’s and place one apart from others, is another point in their favor.
Don’t succumb to division because it will always lead to us remaining conquered.

Last: where within apartheid, genocide and the white supremacists that make you Israel, does black reparation and healing exist?? And if not, why is an author from Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine in this collection? (Chapter 1, @5:35)

[Kelly Shaw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awe sooo good, giving a voice to black people of all walks of life and what they imagine for their life or lives around them. It’s like you just want to breath the words in and exhale them. It’s almost like a hug from your grandmother you feel the love, and pride in our blackness.

[Adrienne La Faye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent read! A visionary concept developed by Natasha Marin is breathtaking. All of this combined with the Uncomparable MS. LENA WAITHE and Daveed Diggs makes Black Imagination a mouth-watering read and listening.

[Iya Jackson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an incredibly powerful piece. I will definitely be spending time listening to this again & again. If you are Black, this listen can transport you to a place so warm & comforting. Far away from wherever you are in the world and into an imaginary world which celebrates you. Which comforts us. Give this a chance. Meditate on it & sit with it. You'll be better for it.

[mina skelly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely loved it ? really humanising (...not sure what word I'm looking for?) And beautiful - thankyou for such amazing heart expressions. I'm feeling so much love after listening

[P.R.A. Publishing · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a refreshing take on showcasing thoughts of youth and society. I am such a fan of Daveed Diggs!
The blending of the readings cover subject matter as diverse and deep as the times.

I highly recommend this performance!

[Gennyfer Hanvey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lush, vibrant, devastating, urgent, beautiful. The themes swirl from artist to artivist leaving me feel as if I was a child jumping in the surf. This book is a ebullient celebration of blackness, creativity, and life. I will listen again.

[ShaTonya Wooley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Epic!!!!! This book made me think so deeply about me, where I’ve come from, who I am and what future I want for me and my future children.