We Need the Visuals, Beyoncé!: Surviving the Apocalypse, Afro-Futurism, Octavia Butler, and the Need for Black Utopias

Beyoncé told us "Shut the hell up about the visuals," and I am distraught! Follow along as I explore and expound on the missed opportunity for Afro Futurism and the BIGGEST criticism I have of Cowboy Carter that she could have fixed with a visual album. In this episode, I discuss how I use Beyoncé in my African American Studies course, and why I had such a vested interest in seeing the album visually. In the process, I discuss Octavia Butler, why Beyoncé's Blackbirds deserve justice, and why Afro-futurism needs a resurgence in popular American culture.