"To refuse to participate in the shaping of our future is to give it up. Do not be misled into passivity either by false security or by despair. Each of us must find our work and do it."
Audre Lorde | 1982
All over the world, we watched the indescribable atrocities committed in the name of white supremacy and anti-blackness. People like Trayvon Martin, Eric Gartner, Philando Castile, Nia Wilson, Oscar Grant, George Floyd, Oluwatoyin (Toyin) Salau, Breonna Taylor, and countless others have unjustly lost their lives with little to zero consequence. We must recognize that all black lives matter, to be in solidarity with our QTBIPOC and Muslim family. We refuse to have our pain fetishized!
It's our role to activate when the symptoms of society become terminal. Empathy should not be a bipartisan issue but rather a common act of good.
A future where fear doesn't rule the heart
A future where our children can look up to a bright sun with fuller bellies
A future where weapons of war are dismantled, with the institutions that created them
A future led by love
In 1987, a young concertgoer was slain at a Boogie Down Production, starring rap group: Public Enemy. The senseless act ignited widespread conversations and anger in marginalized communities. The reaction inspired: Stop The Violence, a movement led by Boogie Down member Kris (KRS-One) Parker. Including Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Just-Ice, Heavy D, and Stetsasonic. Together they led a #1 single dubbed "Self-Destruction." Raising a shattering $100,000 for affected Black communities.
Shape Da FutuR is the brainchild of Gideon Egbuchulam, and multimedia artist, Yosef Gebre. Like Kris Parker's vision, justice is an attitude. If we ever hope to heal the wounds inflicted by Amerikkka. Yosef's iconoclast approach to fashion bridges the gap with Gideon's trim illustrations. A dichotomy borrowed from the pages of the Afrofuturism movement. Coined by Mark Dery in 1993 and popularized in the late 90s. Together the duo hopes to spread public awareness and inspire action
as their manifesto for social change!
100% of profits will be donated to
National Black Disability Coalition
This critical work is brought to life by the contributions of individuals like you!
Thank you!
Kema W Tesfai as Rocket & Justyce Key as Hardware
Directing Photographer | UPM
BTS Photographer
PA
Stylist | MUA
Music Mixing
Animations | Intern
Co-Producer | Co-Designer
Producer | Designer
Very Special Thanks to
