Is the key to greater diversity in comics and related media a change in corporate policy or greater activism by minority creators? Minority creators can create engaging materials, but the question remains whether or not the public will get a chance to see it.
Brandon Easton's new documentary on African-American creators in science fiction and fantasy touches on a pivotal question about contemporary society. What are the implication of African Americans creating stories rooted in the traditions of speculative fiction? Does this hold the promise of shattering the perspectives that limit expectations for black people in the United States? Can these stories move popular culture beyond a moment that replicates narratives that do not allow people of color to cast themselves in a new light? Answering these questions will have a powerful impact on the United States in the new century.