Ingrid LaFleur, founder and director of AFROTOPIA and recent Detroit Mayoral candidate, speaks at the Utopian Studies Society meeting at Michigan State University. LaFleur reflects on her personal history and how it led her to a deep engagement with Afrofuturism. She talks about the literal and figurative whitewashing of Detroit, how black street artists and muralists are frequently ticketed and have their art covered with white paint, including an artist who was commissioned by the city. LaFleur discusses the reduction of resources in Detroit and how a lack of capital prevents residence from investing in their neighborhoods. She criticizes Detroit's white mayor for advocating for the use of bias facial recognition software in law enforcement that is proven to be especially inaccurate with black women, the largest population of Detroit and head of most households. Ingrid LaFleur is introduced by Dr. Julian Chambliss, Professor of English at Michigan State University, and answers questions from the audience.
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