Past Activations
Harlem • June 2023
Black Future Newsstand’s Bold Debut in New York
The first-ever Black Future Newsstand was born in Harlem during the week of Juneteenth 2023, created in partnership with Alicia Walters of the Black Thought Project.
This installation was filled with publications, content and art from a future abundant with repair. The newsstand exterior’s Black Thought Walls invited the community to share their vision for a future media that loves Black people.
Co-creators Circle: Alicia Walters (facilitator); Collette Watson (facilitator); Alicia Bell; Allen Kwabena-Frimpong; Eteng Ettah; Diamond Hardiman; Damaso Reyes; April September; Venneikia Williams
Photography by Bethanie Hines
AUSTIN • November 2023
Reflecting the Wholeness of Black Stories in Austin
Facilitators Diamond Hardiman and Venneikia Williams journeyed to Austin, Texas, in November 2023 to present a mobile Black Future Newsstand.
The activation took place at the AfroTech conference as part of Center for Cultural Power’s Mixed Media Mixer, a gathering for technologists, artists and creatives whose voices are redefining how we see the past, present and future of Blackness.
Chicago • October 2024
Chicago: A Bold Discussion on Race and the Power of Media
Black Journalists, Creatives and the Chicago Community Gather in Historic Bronzeville to Re-envision the Future of Media during Race Forward Cultural Week of Action
This immersive public art exhibit highlighted the role of media in both suppressing and advancing justice for Black communities. This event featured a groundbreaking panel discussion, live music and an interactive virtual tour showcasing the historical media and stories of Black activism in Southside Chicago.
The Black Future Newsstand was presented by Media 2070 (a project of Free Press), MediaJustice, Revival Lab and Black River Life, made possible with the support of Race Forward. This activation was a part of Race Forward’s nationwide Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy.
Photography by Michael Lim Photography
Los Angeles • May 2025
Los Angeles: Riot to Repair Soundscape Exhibition
Black Technologists, Artists and Students Join to Embrace an Archive of Reparative Narratives redefining the 2020 Uprisings
This multimedia exhibition showcased work reflecting on the historic events that took place five years ago and imagines the kind of reparative narrative ecosystem needed to serve the health and well-being of Black communities. Through art, soundscapes and augmented reality, this dynamic collaboration wove a thread of stories together that captured the power of culture, media and arts to tell reparative and transformative stories. This activation was held as the culmination of both Media 2070’s fellowship with the Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab and The Remedy Is Solidarity, ZEAL Co-op’s global multimedia anthology on reparations.
Photography by Halline Overby
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Black Future Newsstand is a project of the The Media 2070 Initiative. We are a growing consortium of media-makers and activists collectively dreaming up reparative policies, interventions and futures. We campaign for media reparations so that Black people have the capital and power to own and control our own narratives from ideation to distribution. Join us in co-dreaming a media system that cares for Black communities. Read our groundbreaking essay An Invitation to Dream Up Media Reparations and get involved.