The intersection of technology and liberation takes center stage as the African American Leadership Forum (The Forum) launches the latest installment of its Radical Black Futures Series: Rewriting Liberation with Codes and Cannabis at the Walker Art Center on February 24-25. This two-day summit is more than a conference—it’s a declaration that Black futures will not only be imagined but engineered through cutting-edge innovation and economic empowerment.
Claiming Space in AI and Cannabis
For generations, Black communities have been systematically excluded from the industries that shape the future. AI is set to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, yet Black professionals remain drastically underrepresented—making up only 5% of the workforce at major tech companies and less than 2.5% of AI researchers worldwide. The digital divide further widens the gap, with 34% of Black households lacking broadband internet and Black students facing reduced access to STEM education.
Meanwhile, in the cannabis industry, Black entrepreneurs hold less than 2% of licenses despite Black Americans being nearly four times more likely to be arrested for possession than white individuals. While legal cannabis is projected to surpass $41 billion in sales by 2025, systemic barriers—including exorbitant licensing fees—continue to lock Black business owners out of an industry built on the criminalization of their communities.
The Power of AI and Cannabis in Black Liberation
The Forum’s CEO, Adair Mosley, sees these two industries as critical battlegrounds for Black sovereignty:
“Afrofuturism demands that we dream beyond survival. AI and cannabis are not just tools—they are landscapes of possibility, weapons against inequity, and the soil where Black futures can thrive. The moment we’re in requires not only radical thinking but a reimagining of the narratives empowered to shape our liberation.”
The summit will engage leading voices in technology, business, and policy to chart a course for economic security, racial justice, and generational wealth-building.
What to Expect at the Summit
💡 Coding Liberation: A keynote by Erin Reddick, founder of BlackChatGPT, exploring how AI can be reclaimed to center Black voices.
📢 Policy and Economic Justice Strategies: Visionary discussions on breaking down barriers in AI ethics, cannabis licensing, and reparative policies.
🎭 Afrofuturist Showcase: A celebration of Black artists, storytellers, and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future.
🌿 Interactive Panels on AI and Cannabis: Critical dialogues on AI regulation, racial bias in algorithms, cannabis equity programs, and pathways for Black ownership.
Rewriting the Narrative
This summit is a direct extension of The Forum’s Black Agenda for Change, advocating for automatic expungement of cannabis convictions, equitable cannabis licensing, and increased Black representation in AI development.
“If we don’t claim these industries for liberation, someone else will claim them for control,” Mosley reminds us. “We are unapologetically designing our future in real time.”
Pay-What-You-Can for Radical Accessibility
The event is open to all, following a pay-what-you-can model to ensure accessibility.
📅 Dates: February 24-25, 2025
📍 Location: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
🎟 Tickets Available Now on Eventbrite
Join The Forum in reclaiming technology, cannabis, and economic power for Black communities. Because when we dream in Afrofuturism, we don’t just imagine the future—we build it.