UC Riverside

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois believed that through the use of visual arts, Black Americans could cultivate a new collective social identity. It’s through the intentional and collaborative utilization of the visual arts that gifts one the agency to shape their own individual future. While he urged us to direct our understanding of the collective history of Black Americans here in this country, which he distinguishes as the intersection of being both African (Black) and American, he also urged us to seek insight from other cultures. This master’s thesis employs Du Bois’s views of the role art has in society. It examines the commonalities between Black Artistic expression in relation to critiquing one’s place in society and navigating the future, embodying themes within Afrofuturism, which is a theory that expresses notions of the individual Black identity, within the intersection of art and technology, to ultimately envision a liberated future. It can be argued that Black Americans, are having a semiotic experience with Japanese Anime and Manga when viewing them. Semiotics is a form of analysis focusing on how meaning is created, understood, and communicated between people. After their semiotic experience, they then take action by using visual arts and media to subvert preexisting narratives rooted in fatalistic realities.This thesis focuses on the prevalent and intentional use of signs and icons presented within Anime and Manga series, that are internalized by Black American Anime fans (Otaku), who then take an Afrofuturistic approach to how they perceive their place in the world, as well as envision possible futures. It is separated into three chapters, with the first being historical as it analyzes W.E.B Du Bois’s work. The second chapter points to contemporary Black Artists whose work is influenced by Japanese culture, Iona Rozeal Brown and John Jennings. Lastly, the final chapter defines what are both Anime and Manga and their influence today on Black Americans. To conclude, if one embarks on this internal journey, one can contribute towards creating a new collectively acceptable social identity that is not synonymous with fatalistic realities, through their appreciation of Anime, Manga, and Japanese culture.