Black Comic Creators, Artists, Writers, Designers, and Innovators Collide!
Our Vision is to provide an educational, entertaining, and informative space for creative and critical thinkers alongside community builders to experience Black Comix as an art as well as an industry of opportunities.
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ENJOY 3rd Annual celebration of Black Comics, Sci-Fi, Afrofuturism, and Astral Blackness during the week of San Diego Comic-con! The Afrofuturism Lounge is the first of its kind and back again for another round; Part After Party, Part Black Artists Showcase. Proceeds from this event will benefit DETOUR (Depositing Empowerment Through Outreach & Urban Redevelopment). DETOUR is a mentoring program for girls of color whose mission is to increase access to education and employment opportunities for girls through our Focused And Naturally Confident Youth (F.A.N.C.Y.) Leadership programs (Expo, Leadership Academy, and Ambassador Internships). Our message is it is never too late to reposition yourself to passionately seek and fulfill your purpose! This ties in perfectly with the Afrofuturism and the principle of Sankofa. It's never too late to go back and fix it.
Next year will include:
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Workshops and Panels
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Cosplay Competition Both Nights
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Hero/Villain Lair Design Competition Saturday evening
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Original artwork by local, regional, national, and international artists
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Live performances
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Food and drink
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Great opportunities to network and connect with other creative and intelligent forward thinking individuals
If you can't get into the SDCC, or are looking for something fun to do in the Gaslamp District after the doors of SDCC close, THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU! And has FREE ADMISSION to the exhibit hall! Come experience Black Comic Book Creators and Artists all in one spot, July 24th and 25th.
Want to volunteer? Message event organizers or send email to info@firyali.com with Volunteer in the subject line to express interest.
Last year, we were once again overwhelmed with the support and demand for this event. Every year, we are committed to listening to the voice of our customers with a focus on continuous improvement. We prevail upon you for patience and grace as we assure you we have taken into consideration all of our lessons learned from prior years so that the lounge can be even better this time around.
DISCLAIMER: Capacity limits apply. Volunteers are encouraged though positions are limited.
Maria Dowd
Maria Dowd’sdeepest, most
electrifying passion is to
energize and equip
women with tools and
strategies to take bolder
stands for the quality of
their lives; and to be
powerfully prepared for
life’s unexpected twists
and turns.
Kelvin Frazier, PhD
Billboard recording artist, singer and songwriter Kelvin Frazier Ph.D is definitely not your typical artist. After graduating from M.I.T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) with a PhD in Physical Chemistry and deciding to teach Organic Chemistry as an Adjunct Professor Kelvin could never ignore his first love which is music.Tamera Hill
Who is Tamera Hill? She is a gifted, talented, visionary, writer, producer, and composer, and founder of Predestined Entertainment, L.LC. Tamera Hill creates life transforming art that will revolutionize the inspirational, and secular film industry.Tamera Hill is a producer and director, known for Never Heard (2018), Solo (2018) and I Never Heard My Father Speak Stage Play (2014).
Clifton Bell, The Ghettonerd Company
Director Clifton Bell, founder of The Ghettonerd Company, a boutique-style production company focusing on film, television, commercials & music videos, has had the privilege to create projects with platinum artist including Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Migos, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Meek Mills, Chris Brown, Gucci Mane & a slew of other A-listers & brands including Apple, McDonald’s & American Family Insurance. His documentary “The Cash Money Story: Before Anythang” exclusively on Apple has 7M+ views.Makeda "Dread" Cheatom
Makeda “Dread” Cheatom grew up in San Diego, CA and has dedicated her life to music, art,culture and well being.
In 1971, she opened the first vegetarian restaurant and international cultural center in San
Diego, the world-famous, Prophet Vegetarian Restaurant. The Prophet collaborated with many
international health advocates like Dick Gregory and Dr Bronner. Makeda later met Bob Marley
and began her music career as a promoter...
James Spooner, Afropunk Founder
James Spooner is an accomplished tattoo artist (Monocle Tattoo), illustrator, and filmmaker. He directed the films White Lies, Black Sheep and the seminal documentaryAfro-Punk. Both films premiered at national and international film festivals, including Toronto International, and garnered various awards. James is also the founder of the AFRO-PUNK Festival, which currently boasts audiences over a hundred thousand around the world.Spooner is currently finishing two graphic novels.