We can't build what we can't imagine

“Visionary fiction”, a term coined by Walidah Imarisha, is any fantastical art that helps us understand our current reality and imagine more just futures.

It asks us to consider what kind of world we want, rather than what feels possible or realistic. “We can’t build what we can’t imagine,” says Imarisha.

While imagining a world outside of what we already know can seem like wishful thinking, it’s important for us to remember that everything feels unrealistic to begin with. Think about how mainstream views on police and prisons have changed in just one year. The Black Lives Matter movement shows us that when visionary fiction and activism combine forces, we can start to see real social change.

Imarisha asks us to start imagining our futures now, and I encourage you to try this too.

“Imagine it’s 50 years in the future, and social justice movements have continued winning and advancing liberation. What would your life be like? What would your everyday routine be? You could write out your daily schedule, you could write a journal entry from the year 2070. You could write a letter to a loved one talking about the changes that have occurred over your life.”