Meta Launches New VR Experiences Exploring Black History & Afrofuturism

Today, we at The DigiSpot share the debut of Meta’s new Metaverse Culture Series – a first-of-its-kind virtual reality initiative positioned to create a more accessible entry point into the future of tech for historically excluded communities through unique VR experiences.

The series kicks off this Black History Month as Meta invited an exclusive group of Black thought leaders together in the metaverse to collaborate, create and explore via two distinct programming moments:

• “I Am a Man” VR experience by Gabe Gault in Horizon Worlds: Meta partnered with artist and VR creator Gabe Gault to design and build a custom experience in Horizon Worlds exploring his interpretation of Afrofuturism. Gabe’s World offers a moving interpretation of 1960s Black history, paying homage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, “I Am a Man” activists, and the Tuskegee Airmen.

The “I Am a Man” experience will be accessible to the public in Horizon Worlds for a limited time– from Tuesday, February 22 through the end of Black History Month. Please go to Oculus.com for detailed instructions on how to visit.

• Black Future Roundtable Discussion: Meta also brought together an exclusive group of Black creators and change-makers in Horizon Workrooms to explore embedding Black culture and creativity into the metaverse and future of tech

Participants included:

• Gabe Gault, Artist & VR Creator
• Jay Ellis, Actor & Producer
• Paris McCoy, Director of Photography, Producer & Immersive Technologist
• Rashaad Lambert, ESVP Forbes & Founder, Forbes The Culture
• Philip Lewis, Senior Front Page Editor, HuffPost
• Ime Archibong, Head of New Product Experimentation, Meta
• Vivian Ewalefo Johnson, Head of Cultural Moments & Product Equity Communications, Meta
• Danielle Young, Journalist & We the Culture Creator (Moderator)

Stay tuned for more Metaverse Culture Series experiences rolling out during cultural moments throughout the year.

Next month, Meta will connect with women leading the way in VR today for International Women’s Day, and later explore Ramadan, Earth Day, Pride, and more.