How Long 'Til Black Future Month?

How Long ‘Til Black Future Month, a collection of 22 dystopian short stories created in the spirit of Afrofuturism, was written by New York Times bestselling author N.K. Jemisin. Jemisin is the only author awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novel for three consecutive years.

This collection transports readers to dozens of new worlds, characters, and possibilities. Often taking on important societal issues such as rape, pollution, the abuse of power and religion, mediocre educational models, and the fallout from capitalism, Jemisin’s characters grapple with many of the same issues plaguing contemporary society.

Plot Summary

In the first story, readers visit a utopia called Um-Helat; in the second story, a homeless man on the streets of New York City fights an unseen force of destruction. In the third story, an African American mother living during segregation sacrifices her joy and her freedom so her children will have a chance to succeed, and in the fourth story a talented chef finds herself whipping up the recipe to eternal life. In the fifth story, the setting shifts to New Orleans, where one of Toussaint L’Ouverture’s daughters on a secret mission to bring the brilliance of one of America’s great black thinkers back to Haiti.