Illustrator and writer Jerome Walford talks about Afrofuturism, comics and his relationship to them "from childhood to the present," and his inspirations that lead to his creative process. Born and raised in Jamaica, later immigrating to the United States while in highschool, Walford's stories are heavily influenced by his Caribbean history, culture, and community. He shares that, having grown up reading comic books, the idea of pursuing a career in the creation of them was quite natural for him. While attending Cornell University for a degree in Fine Arts, he created a project with the concept of comics and superheroes at the core which later inspired his first comic book series, "Nowhere man." Walford defines Afrofuturism as "a vision for the future," showing a definitive expression and influence of a culture and cultural diasporas. Through his comics, Walford strives to show the importance of Black characters and Black stories, also exploring how individual and intimate stories can bring people together in a collaborative way. This interview was conducted by Cassie Kirchmeier as part of honors option for Dr. Julian Chambliss ENG 478B Literature and Visual Culture course in the Department of English at Michigan State University.
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