ABSTRACT
This chapter advocates for teaching Alaya Dawn Johnson’s The Summer Prince (2013) through the lens of protest art. A sci-fi novel set in the post-apocalyptic algae-powered city of Palmares Três, The Summer Prince follows protagonist June Costa and summer king Enki as they partner to create art that challenges discriminatory practices in their city. Approaching the text through the lens of protest art opens rich opportunities for discussing the world of the novel, contemporary society, and the artistic choices Johnson makes to connect the two. The activities and assignments laid out in this chapter draw on the history and theory of protest art and lead to student-directed critical and creative projects about how protest art employs rhetorics fostering awareness and action as well as discussions about how Black speculative fiction plays a crucial role in rejecting oppressive socio-political regimes and inspiring ways forward.
