Sky Is Black - RECOLLECT

Sign in Subscribe

Sky Is Black

SKY IS BLACK is a Pan-African, future-facing platform, amplifying the voices and efforts of Blacks in business, science, education, the arts, technology, medicine, A.I., and venture capital. Remember where we're going...

SKY IS BLACK - Episode #48

SKY IS BLACK - Episode #48

Anton and BC discuss the Apple TV+ film, The Banker, the Black-owned company, ⁠Happy Hues⁠, and the possibility of a more promising AI-enabled future.

SKY IS BLACK - Episode #47

SKY IS BLACK - Episode #47

BC and Anton discuss Mutale Nkonde, the prophetic accuracy of Stochastic Parrots, and the evolving battle to address toxicity in artificial intelligence.

The SKY IS BLACK Conversation Menu: Artificial Intelligence

The SKY IS BLACK Conversation Menu: Artificial Intelligence

The rapid evolution of AI is quickly changing the world, literally as we speak. In Season 2 of SKY IS BLACK, we’ll explore and discuss the implications of these developments, both for people of African descent, and communities around the world. Here are a few of the resources that

SKY IS BLACK - Episode #46

SKY IS BLACK - Episode #46

Anton and BC discuss their conversation with Timnit Gebru, the Black Pot Supper Club, and the presence and impact of pareidolia in AI.

SKY IS BLACK - Episode #45

SKY IS BLACK - Episode #45

They're back! BC and Anton launch Season 2 by welcoming Timnit Gebru, founder of the Distributed AI Research Institute, for a discussion about chatGPT, her childhood in Addis Ababa, and a growing evil lurking within some corners of the A.I. ecosystem.

Production is Critical

Production is Critical

Former dean of the USC School of Architecture, Milton S.F. Curry, is launching Criticial Productive, a new journal focusing on the intersections of art, culture, and architecture. From Critical Productive / Issue #1: SOVEREIGNTY | POPULISM "Sovereignty and Populism are often in tension. How do these two domains of thought— sovereignty

Space for All!

Event: February 10, 2023 | From The National Museum of African American History and Culture / "On Friday February 10, 2023, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and NASA invite middle and high school students to join us virtually for an educational experience where we examine and build on

Phase One Complete

Phase One Complete

The New African Centres for Disease Control emerges in Addis Ababa. | From Africa CDC / "Africa CDC strengthens the capacity and capability of Africa’s public health institutions as well as partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks, based on data-driven interventions and programmes." | ‌

Fashion Forward. And Backwards.

Fashion Forward. And Backwards.

An A.I. generated fashion show from Malik Afegbua celebrates both elders and artistry. We're here for it - wherever here may be - and for everything else this artineer is doing. | From Ebony Flake via ESSENCE / "Last month, Malik Afegbua staged his first runway show—a Fashion Show for

Gazing in Dubai

Gazing in Dubai

Ethiopian photographer Aida Muluneh's work will be on display at the Efie Gallery in Dubai. | From Harriet Lloyd-Smith via Wallpaper / "Aïda Muluneh has long been turning the global perception of Africa on its head. The Ethiopian photographer’s instantly identifiable visual language is a striking blend of surrealism and sharp,

Still Number One. Percent.

Still Number One. Percent.

African-American founders continue to receive venture capital scraps. From Dominic-Madori Davis via TechCrunch / "The latest Crunchbase data shows that Black startup founders in the United States raised around $264 million out of the total $33.6 billion in venture capital allocated in Q4 2022. That’s an uptick from the

Not What It Seems?

Not What It Seems?

Understanding the African startup scene requires going beyond the numbers. | From Samuel Gebre via Bloomberg / "African startups raised a record $5.3 billion last year, though that may be the high-water mark as a deepening slump in the technology industry reduces the funding pool. While investment in 2022 exceeded the

Storybook Beginnings

Storybook Beginnings

Squid Magazine co-founder, Kofi Sydney Asare, identifies some great tales and games for us to look forward to... | From Squid Magazine / "2023 is shaping up to be an amazing year for African creative projects! In the face of challenges like the global economic downturn last year, and spurred on by

Just Build It

Artist Kehinde Wiley is doing things, and now also building things. | From Julian Lucas via The New Yorker / In May, Wiley made his début in Dakar as a global patron of the arts. His Pan-African Xanadu, Black Rock Senegal, had opened three years earlier, with an all-night party where musicians

Dig This.

Zeinab Mohammed Salih and Jason Burke report on the growing number of homegrown African archeologists. | Via The Guardian/ "Heading down one staircase are Sabrine Jamal, Nadia Musa, Athar Bela and Sabrine al-Sadiq, all studying archaeology at Khartoum University. Not one of them is older than 24 and they see themselves

Our Built Environment

Our Built Environment

International architect, Emanuel Admassu, discusses the foundations of both architecture and urban design with Eva Glasberg. From Columbia News. | From Columbia University / Professor Emanuel Admassu’s art, design, and teaching embrace theory, spatial justice, and contemporary African art. His work explores the international constellation of Afrodiasporic spaces. Most recently, he

YEAR OF UJAMAA - Episode #6

YEAR OF UJAMAA - Episode #6

Anton and BC visit My Place Cafe in Pasadena, CA, and reflect on the first year of Year of Ujamaa. 110 all the way... | *Note: In this episode, BC inadvertantly identified Blk&Bold Coffee as Blk&Gold Coffee. Clearly a moment of OYOU-VAC. Another cup, please... :)

Harvard's New President

Harvard's New President

Claudine Gay has been elected to become the 30th president of Harvard University, starting on July 1, 2023. | From Harvard University / Claudine Gay has led Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences as the Edgerley Family Dean since August 2018, having served previously as dean of social science from 2015

SKY IS BLACK - Season 1 Finale

SKY IS BLACK - Season 1 Finale

In the finale of Season One, Anton and BC discuss Wakanda Forever, a bevy of movies and A.I. books, and formally announce the official 2022 SKY IS BLACK Person of the Year. About artivist NIKKOLAS SMITH / Nikkolas Smith, a native of Houston, Texas, is a Master of Architecture recipient

Deep Crossing

"Recollection" is a colorful pedestrian street crossing in South Africa, produced by Our Future Cities, and designed by artist Al Luke.|

YEAR OF UJAMAA - Episode #5

YEAR OF UJAMAA - Episode #5

Anton and BC discuss the ancient, super grain fonio, the tasty collaboration between A Dozen Cousins and Marvel Studios, and where to buy toilet paper, paper towels, and toothpaste from Black-owned companies. Keeping it 220.

SKY IS BLACK - Episode #43

SKY IS BLACK - Episode #43

Anton and BC welcome Dr. Ashuanta Anderson for a discussion about cultural pride reinforcement, the power of children’s books, and how we can propel all children closer to our collective Wakanda. Ashaunta T. Anderson, MD, MPH, MSHS is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine

Introducing CAAMCon

Introducing CAAMCon

Event: December 10, 2022 | From CAAM / Immerse yourself in the artistry, history, and power of Black comics at CAAMCon, CAAM’s first festival of Black comics! Join us for a day of activities for all ages, featuring panels with Ryan Coogler, John Jennings, Cody Ziglar and other noted artists in

Design Week Addis Ababa

Design Week Addis Ababa

Event: November 21-27, 2022 | Founded by Metasebia Yoseph From DWAA / Since launching in December of 2015, Design Week Addis Ababa (DWAA) has become the most anticipated design event in East Africa. This community based platform coordinates local and international designers, artists, artisans, workshops, galleries, showrooms, cultural institutions, hotels, companies, and

To Infinity, But Beyond

To Infinity, But Beyond

Event: March, 2023 | From NMAAHC / Through the 4,300-square-foot temporary exhibition, visitors will view a variety of objects from Afrofuturism pioneers, including Octavia Butler’s typewriter, Nichelle Nichols’ Star Trek uniform as the character Lt. Nyota Uhura and Nona Hendryx’s spacesuit-inspired costume worn while performing with LaBelle. LEARN MORE.