Not just another gala—another galaxy
February 29, 2020, on the last day of Black History Month we celebrated future-forward folks whose work here in Hawai’i highlights the beauty and creativity of our Black community, is rooted in love and respect for this ‘āina & its people, and is invested in preparing a just and healthy world for those yet to come. We hosted an evening of ‘ono food, music, art, and avant-garde African diaspora culture that’s always right on time.
The future is fertile. When we are asked to imagine the future we are often drawn into technological spaces, thinking robots and intergalactic travel, lots of glass and chrome, flying vehicles, and alien encounters. But, when we really think about what matters to us the futures that we endeavor to bring forward have to reflect our values. In Hawai’i, where our diverse population bears the brunt of colonialism, militarism, environmental devastation, and climate change, we know that the problems we’ll need to address in our shared future will not be solved solely by technocratic fixes. When we imagine futures in Hawai’i the health and wellbeing of the land and its people are of paramount importance.
The Black Futures Ball was an evening of celebration of resilience and creative exploration as we shape the world that is yet to come by rooting ourselves in ancestral technologies of stewardship and cultures of kinship. The indoor/outdoor space at the Hawai‘i State Art Museum was filled with native plants in an ambiance of fertility where attendees socialized, learned about our programs and this year’s future-forward honorees, create plant art, explore HiSAM’s galleries, eat delicious locally sourced foods, and enjoy music, dance, and art from across the African diaspora.
Honorees
This year, the Black Futures Ball honored four outstanding members of Hawai’i’s Black community who have dedicated their careers to building a just, healthy, and creative future for Hawai’i and beyond.
Dr. Kathryn Waddell Takara, scholar, poet, publisher, and activist
Maxine Burkett, professor of Law at the William S. Richardson School of Law, and co-founder and executive director of the Institute for Climate and Peace
Kenneth Lawson, co-director of the Hawai‘i Innocence Project and an associate faculty specialist at the William S. Richardson School of Law
Selena Green, Certified Professional Midwife at Hale Kealaula
Event images courtesy of Vivir Photography.
Event images courtesy of Ryan Schorr.