How Long 'Til Black Future Month?

This story is made up of conversation threads, research reports, and other cultural documents. The first document is the transcript of a digital conversation between Paul and Thandi, two members of the Trade Establishment, a group of researchers studying the Manka people. Paul asks for Thandi’s “help” with an upcoming vote, but she tells him to “[s]tay the hell away,” citing his “expire[d …] Spermicet patch” and disrespect for her career (197). She asks him what he thinks happened to the missing member of their team. The next document is a transcript of a conversation between Aihua, a member of the Trade Establishment, and a Manka evaluator (198). There is some disconnect between the two because they speak different languages, but the evaluator can communicate well enough in Aihua’s language that most meaning is not lost. Aihua asks the evaluator why they evaluate. The evaluator seems unsure of how to answer, but makes it clear that the purpose is more complicated than simply for “the improvement” of what is being evaluated (199).

The following document is a post created by the Trade Establishment, noting that the Manka look like cheetahs and have three sexes. The next document is another post made by the Trade Establishment, but this post curses the First Contact team—another team of researchers—for telling the Manka about Christianity.