‘We Invent the future, with each step forward we take.’

The inspiration for this piece is the song ‘I’m not afraid of the future’ by Joey Negro featuring Akabu, with the main chorus serving as the title of the piece.

I love this song; it's a slapper. It makes me feel hopeful, especially when the world feels hopeless.

I am not afraid of the future because, to me, to be afraid means giving up. Actually, no, that's harsh, we’re allowed to be scared, I’m worried, but to let that fear guide you is to give up.

And I have said many times, and will continue to, that I refuse to let fear guide me because I must have hope that the future can be better.

We stand at a crossroads. We can begrudgingly shuffle into the techno-feudal/fascist fantasy that the Tech bro/ oligarchs have envisioned. Or we can decide to say fuck them.

The cracks are already starting to show in the facade, and we as a collective have the capacity to make those cracks into Sans Andrea’s faultlines, and there won’t be any Dwayne the ‘Rock’ Johnson to save them. And yeah, it won’t be cute, because what's a shake-up?

I don’t have a clear path to a complete system change, and I don't expect to. All I can say is that the current systems of power are dependent on normalizing isolation, justifying inhumane treatment, and exploiting the masses, whether that is for their labour or for their data and everything in between.

I also understand that the tentacles of control weave through every aspect of our lives, whether we consent or not, and whether that consent is freely given or under duress. But this has only become the way because a dictator’s biggest enemies are his subjects, and fear is the power they truly hold. But that power is starting to awaken, which is why the individuals are squirming frantically, trying to maintain it with their weapon of choice being fear.

I know I’m only echoing the sentiments of those who came before me with much more elegant tongues, but we must remind ourselves of this truth because it allows us or me to move through the world with hope. After all, they don’t have the actual power; they only have a facade of it.

We invent the future that is our power, whether it takes the form of mutual aid and community building, direct action, or showing up for those who are less privileged. Most importantly, it is seeing the humanity in others, listening and sharing our ideas, thoughts, and struggles, and being open, being okay in the nuance of the human experience, and allowing that to guide and inform the future we want to build. To remain resilient, we must remain hopeful. Now, I’ll get off my soapbox and get to work, because we have a future to build...