08/31/2026
Afrofuturism 3.0: Redefining the Algorithm: Art, Identity, and the Cultural Matrix of Generative AI with Dr. Nettrice Gaskins
LINK IN BIOOOO
STEAM Box and the youth of the summer ACN program sit down with author and artist Dr. Nettrice Gaskins . Recognized as a leading pioneer of "Afrofuturism 3.0," Gaskins discusses how generative AI acts as a digital continuum of her background in computer graphics, education, and traditional fine arts.
The conversation dives straight into the high-stakes debates surrounding AI in the arts today. Dr. Gaskins addresses the systemic racial biases baked into mainstream image generators, sharing how she bypasses stereotypical prompts to create art that truly represents Black women. The group also tackles the environmental and social costs of data centers built in underprivileged communities, contextualizing these technological challenges within a broader critique of capitalism.
From navigating online "pitchforks" over her public airport art exhibits to unpacking the ongoing culture wars involving major musical figures like Lupe Fiasco, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Gaskins offers a masterclass in staying resilient. She also shares fascinating behind-the-scenes details of her recent visual design collaboration with Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth Carter on the film Sinners, as well as her innovative STEAM lab project that utilizes micro:bits to turn the traditional, enslaved Juba/Hambone dance into personalized, bias-free AI models. Ultimately, she challenges the next generation of creators to look past simple "virtue signaling" and build non-hierarchical systems that reshape our collective future.
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