Genre-defying, mainstream-disrupting cultural institution AFROPUNK is thrilled to announce this year’s initiative: “Black Spring.” Taking place this spring in Miami, FL – and able to be experienced worldwide virtually for free – “Black Spring” combines AFROPUNK’s legacy of inclusion, activism, and highlighting the best new talent in the world with a focus on Afro-Latin artists and culture for 2021. With experiences for fans across the spectrum — including Covid-safe, in-person watch parties in Miami and Bahia, and performances, talks, and salon sessions being filmed onsite in Miami — “Black Spring” is a full immersion into the Afro-Latin and Afro-Caribbean legacy and world. Performers for this year’s festival, as well as a festival date, a full lineup of panels, and more, will all be announced soon.
“Black Spring,” like its name, is set to be an experience of revitalization, reclamation, revolution, and renewal. Inspired by the idea of claiming one’s freedom, as well as the change in season, the vibrancy of the Afro-Latin musical community, and the incandescent neon buzz of Miami itself, “Black Spring” will be a virtual festival like no other this year. “Black Spring” is AFROPUNK’s clarion call to the Afro-Latin and Afro-Caribbean communities to claim, revel, and celebrate in their Blackness without shame or fear; to be seen without the lens of “Otherness” and to fully, wholly embrace the intersectionality of existence and identity. The festival will be an evolving, cultural space from which to inspire and create discourse, and will focus on the tenets of AFROPUNK’s ongoing core mission: to propel, support, affirm, and learn from these communities at large.
Says Nichelle Sanders, AFROPUNK Strategic Advisor, “AFROPUNK has always been about centering the genius of Black creators from throughout the diaspora and in this time of renewal we are inspired by the spirit of resilience and joy in the Afro-Latinx Diaspora. From music to politics to culture, this community has contributed to revolutionary progress in global black culture. We are so excited to bring some light, heat, sun and party after the dark winter of 2020. We are also excited to provide a further platform to explore the deep complexity and intersections of Blackness, Latinidad, nationality, gender, sexuality and more in the newest edition of AFROPUNK.”
The work and the focus of AFROPUNK over the last 16 years has been to deconstruct oppressive structures and ideologies that have suppressed expression of Black marginalized communities. AFROPUNK is incredibly proud of the global non-conformist movement that they have created in almost two decades, and continue to convey a vocal message of inclusiveness and ethos of “No Sexism, No Racism, No Ableism, No Ageism, No Homophobia, No Fatphobia, No Transphobia, No Hatefulness.”
More details on the full festival lineup will be forthcoming soon.
