Eternal Blackness: Considering Afropolitanism as a Radical Possibility

Over the past few years, Afropolitanism has been regarded as a fad, a concept, a moment, and possibly even a movement. Within academic circles, the term has been met with mixed reactions from those concerned about direct connections to neoliberalism at the expense of the masses and by those interested in the lessons the emphasis on Africa Rising might teach a still xenophobic Western audience. Using a mixture of academic and personal reflections, this article provides a brief history of select debates surrounding Afropolitanism, possibilities for salvaging activist ideals at the heart of the term, and suggestions about the way forward.