Walking through the front doors of Sims Memorial Library, one can see a green poster with the word “speculative” on it. What does this mean and why is it there?

In honor of Black History Month, the diversity committee directed by Eric Johnson, headed by Paul Kelsey and other members of the committee including Herbert Mequin, faculty member of reference instruction library put out a display on the first floor. The main poster comes from a con hosted in Atlanta.

“[The] speculative word caught my eye on the way to the bathroom and I read the information because it was wordy, and I wanted to figure out what it was and learn something new,” explains Jordan Whitworth, senior english major.

Mequin describes speculative fiction as “science fiction, war, alternative history, zombies and comic books of the like and there is more to it written by African American. The heart of why speculative was [chosen to display was] that it was just something that was ingrained in me as a child.”

Mequin says that there is a second reason speculative was chosen. “Part of the self-imposed duty of a librarian is to educate and to expose people to other materials that are out there.”

“I saw the black comic book hero’s poster and Eric McGruder did the series Boondocks which I watched on T.V. and I didn’t know that he did a comic as well,” said Kelly Altazin, senior creative writing major.

Most speculative fiction written by African Americans had to be published under independent comic companies because they were unable to publish their works under mainstream companies such as D.C. or Marvel tells Mequin.

Mequin explained many of the speculative fictions were released as independent works.

“You don’t just buy them because they are written by African Americans; you buy them because they are of good quality,” said Mequin. “Comics can strongly represent what is happening politically but also what is going on in everyday life.”

Mequin tells of how comics are for all types of people.

“Some comics are of people just living their lives or here comes a twist of some superheroes. Things have changed up enough where race isn’t an issue, but we are dealing with aliens from another plant with body modifications.”

The writers of speculative fiction would sometimes write about how they saw or wished the world to be or express their life changes in writings. The writers range from catholic to atheist to having different skin color or gender.

“It doesn’t matter if you are in a wheelchair. If you have superpowers, you become a superhero,” said Mequin.

The American Library Association showcases educational displays each month in an effort to expose students to various perspectives on history and culture. The next display will highlight prominent women in honor of Women’s History month throughout March. For more information on upcoming programs and displays, contact the library at (985) 549-2027.