Racism is being propagated
in ways that we're not even thinking about
in our daily lives.
(Robin) In part one, we learned
that from biased data sets to facial recognition
to soap dispensers, racism is everywhere in tech.
So now what are we gonna do about it?
A.I. doesn't have to be racist.
How can we fix it?
By getting more black folks in artificial intelligence.
Yeah. And to really mobilize scientists
around racial justice issues.
Not just exposing racism... (siren wailing)
...but using these technologies
to really make concrete and measurable change.
See, we start talking about racism,
and the cops show up. And here they go, right?
(Robin) Damn, the feds are watching us.
I gotta go shake these cops.
So, quick, Timnit, tell 'em how hard it is to get into STEM.
I experienced a lot of racism in high school.
I experienced teachers
telling me I can't take AP classes,
that I'm not gonna get into any of the colleges I applied to.
(Robin) But look at you now,
shining bright like a diamond, but also just as rare.
Is there a way to change the misconceptions
of black folks in STEM?
Yeah, I mean, we call it Afrofuturism.
I'm sorry? Afrofuturism.
I consider myself an Afrofuturist.
So there's a future where everyone has an Afro?
No, no-no-no.
(Robin) Hold on, Pierce.
I need to check with somebody who actually has an Afro
just to make sure.
Afrofuturism is a way
of looking at the future or alternate realities,
but you use a black cultural lens.
(Robin) Thanks to Afrofuturist pioneers
like musicians Sun Ra and George Clinton,
and author Octavia Butler,
black voices are being brought to the future.
The way we talk about futurism, it's default white.
(Robin) She is not lying.
So it's fun to be able to look at these stories
where we can be superheroes... in outer space,
because it just pushes the limits
that we've been socialized around.
I run a community center in Durham called Blackspace.
And we make sure black students from a younger age
have resources and networks that they can build on
so that we can start to bridge this digital divide.
And I think that's our obligation
as technologists and as future-makers.
(Robin) Afrofuturism isn't a new idea.
It's older than the Underground Railroad,
for real.
I think Harriet Tubman is the quintessential Afrofuturist
because she lived in a world where
slavery was the status quo.
And she manifested and created a new future.
Well, she had a lot of time to think about it
in her dreams 'cause she was narcoleptic.
Yeah, in this kinda dream kinda world,
she was able to envision a different future.
That's like a superpower. Absolutely.
And she had a shotgun. (gun clicking)
And she had a shotgun.
(Robin) Okay, so maybe it was more of a pistol.
I wasn't good at history.
The important thing is, kids like George
are channeling Harriet's spirit and shootin' their shot.
What we do at my company is we create social justice
mobile applications as well as websites
for local companies.
(Robin) By the way, he's only 17,
so he had to do the interview from his mama's living room.
He's so cute.
I've created the 21st century key for staying safe
from police brutality with my application Cop Stop.
I created Cop Stop because I was afraid
of being the next Trayvon Martin.
Once you click the stop sign, it sends a message
that you're about to interact with a law enforcement officer.
So that phone number would now know where you are
and that you're about to be
in a potentially volatile situation.
(Robin) Yes! Show 'em how to do it, ASAP Appy.
There's been a few articles that have called me
"the black Bill Gates,"
but I have my own separate agenda.
And that's to change the world's perspective
on race through technology.
So what does your Afrofuturist future look like?
(laughs)
Welcome to the Afrofuture, a world that values humanity.
Oh!
A place where rhythm is celebrated.
Oww!
Oh, look, Sasha and Malia are president.
("National Anthem" playing)
Do you hear that?
The "National Anthem" has bass.
Yes!
(Robin) Look, I don't want to wait
for the future to come to me.
So I'm gonna bring the Afrofuture to us.
I decided to throw an Afrofuture party.
(techno music playing)
Greetings, everyone!
(crowd murmurs)
Welcome to my Afrofuturist gala.
(cheering and applause)
What better way to welcome us into the future
than with the granddaughters
of the original Afrofuturist himself, George Clinton.
Give it up for Kandy Apple Redd.
(cheering and applause)
♪ Every girl loves a bad boy ♪
♪ 'Cause a bad boy likes to go hard ♪
♪ And every boy wants a good girl ♪
♪ To be a bad girl...
For me, being an Afrofuturist means
acknowledging some history that has been lost to us,
reclaiming it, and changing the image
so that future generations are more inspired.
♪♪
♪ No one does what I do
♪ To you
♪ So bring it home...
(woman) I love to just imagine a world
where we're not dealing with injustices
and criminal systems.
(singing continues, then ends)
(cheering and applause)
So good!
If this is the future, I'm not going back.
(cheering continues)
The foundation for Wakanda is all around us.
We can build our Afrofuture together, today.
Even if it means a body-rolling robot might try to take my job.
(electrical buzzing, mechanical whirring)