Ytasha is an author and filmmaker. Her book Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci Fi & Fantasy Culture (Lawrence Hill Books) is a 2014 Locus Awards Nonfiction Finalist. Afrofuturism is hailed as the first primer on the subject and she currently speaks at colleges and festivals and engagements around the world discussing the aesthetic and philosophy. Her other books include the sci fi saga Rayla 2212, Post Black: How a New Generation is Redefining African American Identity and Beats Rhymes and Life: What We Love and Hate About Hip Hop. Her films Love Shorts and The Engagement were film festival favorites. The Engagement was nominated for best film at the American Black Film Festival. She directs the Afrofuturist feature film Bar Star City this fall. Ytasha is a former editor at large for Upscale Magazine and is a guest editor for NV Magazine. She also teaches dance to adults and children. A Chicago native, Ytasha is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and studied media management at Columbia College Chicago.