On June 18, the Oakland Museum of California became the stage for a first-of-its-kind Juneteenth experience: a five-course dinner powered by artificial intelligence — and the cultural legacy of the African diaspora. Aptly titled the Futureproof Dinner, the event kicked off the Hella Juneteenth festival and brought together acclaimed Black chefs and creatives to reimagine how heritage, technology, and storytelling can come together on a plate.
The dinner was a collaboration between Hella Creative, a Bay Area BIPOC collective, and The Last Supper Society, a culinary design studio based in Sacramento. According to Ryan Royster, co-founder of the Society, the concept was designed to take guests on a time-traveling journey through Black history while imagining new futures shaped by Black innovation.
“We’re not just looking back, we’re also looking forward and showing that we’re here — and that there’s going to be Black people in the future having impact,” Royster told The Oaklandside.
Chefs like Nelson German, Michele McQueen, Byron Hughes III, and Charles Farrier curated dishes rooted in diasporic tradition and personal identity. From Afro-Latin fusions to veggie-forward fare, the menu wasn’t just delicious — it was a statement.
But what made the night truly radical was the integration of generative A.I. technology, designed by technologist and artist Samer Dabra. As each chef spoke into a microphone, the software transformed their words into real-time visuals, creating a dynamic and immersive artistic experience. For co-organizer Brian Watson of Hella Creative, it was about demystifying A.I. and showing it as a tool for cultural amplification, not erasure.
“I think the opportunity we see — and we’re excited about — is making A.I. feel more accessible, and showing the power of A.I. when it’s used as a tool for imagination,” Watson said.
Chicago-based chef Mariya Moore-Russell, the first Black woman to receive a Michelin star, saw the dinner as an extension of her liberation-centered cooking philosophy. Her presence symbolized a full-circle moment in Black culinary evolution: from forced labor in plantation kitchens to pioneering the future of gastronomy with autonomy and vision.
The evening also granted access to Futureproof: Blueprints For Black Futures, a new A.I.-powered exhibit at OMCA. As Juneteenth continues to evolve from commemoration to innovation, events like this remind us that the future — especially a Black one — is not just possible, it’s already being plated.
Credit: This story was reported using details originally published by Skylla Mumana for The Oaklandside, June 16, 2025.
