You heard it here first: Professors at UC Riverside have been given a grant to “explore ethnic futurisms” because “there has long been an unacknowledged tradition of SF written by people of color.” This is obviously true, because science fiction has surely never addressed the social problems of its day like racism.

And science fiction ‘writers of color’ like Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame Inductee and multiple Nebula award-winner Samuel R. Delaney or multiple Hugo and Nebula award winner Octavia Butler have never been recognized for their outstanding work.

Dave Huber at The College Fix has the story:

Profs Given Grant To Overcome White Male Hegemony in Science Fiction. Or Something.

The year: 1968. A science fiction show called Star Trek makes history by featuring the first interracial kiss on American television.

The year: 1959. A writer named Robert Heinlein makes a Filipino young man his protagonist in what many consider to be his best work, Starship Troopers.

The year: 1973. Marvel Comics’ Captain America title features its hero tracking down a villain who ends up being none other than President Richard Nixon himself. The event causes Cap to become highly disillusioned, and he gives up wearing the American flag for a time.

The year: 1980. Writer Gregory Benford’s novel Timescape warns of global environmental apocalypse if humans aren’t more careful in how they alter their surroundings.

Science fiction has always been an avenue through which creators comment on political, cultural and social matters. Like racism. The nature of society and government. Abuse of power. Stewardship of our planet.

But only in the hallowed halls of academia will you discover such is not enough for this creative genre. No sir. If the creators are not of the “right” color or background, and if the “right” issues aren’t being addressed adequately, then there’s a problem.

At the University of California, Riverside, a grant was needed to explore “ethnic futurisms” — because, it seems, “there has long been an unacknowledged tradition of SF written by people of color.”

Read more:http://collegeinsurrection.com/2014/07/p...tion-is-racist/

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"And science fiction ‘writers of color’ like Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame Inductee and multiple Nebula award-winner Samuel R. Delaney or multiple Hugo and Nebula award winner Octavia Butler have never been recognized for their outstanding work.