; Whereas hip-hop, since its inception, has been a central force in political, social, and cultural spaces and has continued to be a space in which issues such as racism, violence, sexism, economic disinvestment, and others have taken center stage; Whereas Afrofuturism is a term used to describe creative works that envision liberated futures for Black and oppressed peoples, usually including elements of science fiction, fantasy, or technological advancements, ranging across all fields of the arts; Whereas examples of Afrofuturism can be found in the music of artists such as Sun Ra, Rashan Roland Kirk, Jimi Hendrix, and Janelle Monáe; Whereas Octavia Butler’s science fiction novels such as Kindred and the Xenogensis series feature elements of Afrofuturism; Whereas recent films such as Marvel’s Black Panther and the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse also prominently feature examples of Afrofuturism; Whereas Afrofuturistic elements can also be found in the paintings of British-Liberian artist Lina Iris Viktor, the sculptures of Kenyan-born sculptor Wangechi Mutu, as well as the creations of Caribbean writers and artists like Nalo Hopkinson and Grace Jones; Whereas the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass inspired the creation of Negro History Week, the precursor to Black History Month; and Whereas the month of February is officially celebrated as Black History Month, which dates to 1926 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson set aside the second week in February as Negro History Week to recognize the heritage and achievement of Black Americans: Now, therefore, be it