By: Maria Williams
How do you make peace instead of war? What is the solution to unity? How do we stop history from repeating itself? Anita Belle, a politician, author, and activist, muses these and other questions in her comic series turned video game, Exodus to Mars. On Sunday, July 14th, Anita and the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (NCOBRA-Detroit) team will be at the Reparations Booth at the African World Festival, ready to answer questions about the upcoming game and its mission.
Inspired by ancient Egyptology, Heru Deshur, and the astronomical meaning of Sirius and Orion, the storyline of Exodus to Mars transforms mythical creatures and celestial beings into characters. Another inspiration is A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, a 100-year-old novel exhibiting racism and a skewed perception of the Black-white dynamic.
As a powerful move toward a more conscious, connected future, Anita Belle transformed outdated notions and harmful stories into a meaningful pastiche, reflecting the truth about racial disparities through a humorous lens. In the story, Anita, the Queen of the Sky and the Princess of Mars, welcomes RUBI (Reparations and Universal Basic Income), the King of Mars, and a musical band inspired by Marcus Garvey.
As the story progresses, the Princess of Mars makes a crucial decision—choosing a king. When she picks the man meant to resemble Marcus Garvey, a new storyline unfolds. With all the nations wanting to come to Mars and no one realizing it already belongs to Black Martians, Exodus to Mars is an allegorical depiction of colonization in Africa, America, and other lands ‘discovered’ by white people.
As the conflict progresses, players are faced with a question that, ultimately, turns into the game’s goal: How do we avoid fighting and give humanity a chance to make peace? For Anita, the founder of the Reparations Labor Union, reinforcing reparations for all Black people, regardless of origin, religion, or beliefs, is a solution. Dedicated to fulfilling her mission for over 25 years, this Afrofuturistic advocate tapped into the realm of arts, seeking creative solutions to achieve her goals.
With profound symbolisms and direct mentions of those who stand against the Melanin Warriors, Exodus to Mars delves into the dreadful parts of society, calling those who fuel the issue to choose the right side of history.
“If we don’t fight for reparations, it will always be history repeating itself. Politicians these days are only treading water, pushing important matters into stagnation,” she adds. “What we need is immediate actions that leave a tangible impact and actual change. Otherwise, we’re just wasting the time, and it’s the Black people who are suffering.”
Honoring Marcus Garvey, the person who inspired one of the most essential characters in the game, Anita hopes to launch the Exodus to Mars demo on the anniversary of his birthday—August 17th. Over a hundred years ago, Garvey changed history with his protests and political activity; what he is now known for is making the Ku Klux Klan pay for his ship back to Africa, choosing to leave America on his terms.
Anita Belle, a former substitute teacher with a passion for social studies, language, and arts, dedicated Exodus to Mars to children, aiming to educate the generations of the future. To maximize the game’s accessibility for that age group, it will initially launch on mobile phones, available on IOS and Android. With a sprinkle of magic and superpowers, Anita hopes to inspire and empower children while conveying one of the most important lessons in the history of the world.
Central to Exodus to Mars is education through play, encouraging peace while portraying the truth about Black history, and highlighting the need for reparations. The game itself encourages peace by making it profitable as players will earn ‘rubies’ as they progress through the game levels.
Anita shares, “You can make peace or war. Peace is always the first choice, but people need to know that Mars will defend itself if it’s colonized. I have been fighting for reparations for so long, and now, as the Queen of the Skies, I finally feel powerful again. As above, so below—if we don’t want cosmic wars, we need to fix the Earth. And that’s what Exodus to Mars is all about – peace, justice, and unity.”
Published By: Aize Perez
