Coming Back from Yesterday

 

    In "See You Yesterday" there were many elements of Afrofuturism that we have been discussing in class including elements of futuristic technology, struggles of being black in a Western, colonized society, and the rewriting of history in order to reclaim it. I thought it was really clever how there was an integration of the very current and pressing issue of police brutality. The biggest problem presented in the show was how Claudette's older brother is shot and killed while unarmed, and Claudette and her best friend Sebastian use their time-traveling abilities to go back and save him. The two main characters who are black are in hero positions surrounded by science is a very different representation of black youth especially because both of them are very intelligent and planning on going to ivy league schools. They are defying the odds that are greatly against them and defying the stereotypes of kids who have been raised in a "bad" area.  Another element that I found interesting in this movie that highlights the intelligent heroes is that although they are the smartest kids in school, they are not perfect. Claudette has a temper, and both she and Sebastian steal from their school in order to make their time-traveling machines. Their mischief and slight edge made them very likable and relatable as characters. Another scene that really stuck out to me was at the beginning of the movie where Claudette is getting into an argument with her older brother Calvin, and two cops pull up on them with very accusatory tones. Although they were yelling a little and obviously upset, there was nothing happening that called for the police to act as if they were breaking the law. The police officers' overreaction was uncalled for as the situation did not warrant it, and it was not until their friend had told them multiple times that he was recording them that they finally backed off.