What comes to mind when you hear the term Afrofuturism? Maybe you think of artists like Octavia Butler, who used the written word to envision otherworldly societies, or movies like Black Panther, where Black folks had the power to harness advanced technology for the good of their communities.

But Afrofuturism goes beyond just arts and culture. In fact, it can be used to improve healthcare, strengthen our faith, and innovate our classrooms. That’s why we created “Black to the Future,” Word In Black’s series examining how Afrofuturism pushes us to imagine and create a world where people of African descent thrive.

As our health data reporter Anissa Durham explains, “At the core of Afrofuturism is the idea to use science, technology, and philosophy to create a better future for Black people.” Click here to read the full series — and remember, the future is Black.