Black Literary History: Octavia Butler

Though well-known among most bookish folks in both over and underrepresented cultural communities, Octavia Butler's work brought an innovation to literature that was sorely needed in race-torn America, and some are only now learning about it. Exploring the unknown and under-embraced dimension of possibilities available in speculative fiction, her work has reached into a potential apocalyptic future in search of practical spiritual direction, shapeshifters and telepaths in the old world, and independence vs. co-dependence through off-world symbolism.

Under-championed by libraries in my area, I hope to see more of a growing awareness of the gems she's left for us, as her work is the kind that expands, rathers than shackles the black and non-black imagination alike.

Words of Wisdom from Octavia's Parable of the Sower:

"Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought

To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears.

To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists that control the fool

To be led by a thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen

To be led by a liar is to ask to be told lies

To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery."

Of her works we thoroughly recommend: