Octavia E. Butler (1947-2006) was a brilliant and prophetic Black feminist science fiction writer who penned classics such as Kindred and Parable of the Sower. I am forever grateful for the day I walked into the Lauderdale Lakes public library at sixteen and saw Parable of the Sower on the shelf. The story of a teenaged Black girl trying to survive an apocalyptic world resonated so deeply with me. June 22nd would have been Octavia’s 74th birthday. Although she is an ancestor, her legacy lives on in the work she left behind and in the countless readers, writers, and thinkers she inspired. I’m currently working on her biography and have been struck by all the lessons that she has to teach us. Here are a few.
1. Get curious.
Octavia was a lifelong learner. She spent lots of time going down rabbit holes of research for her books and for her own nerdy fascination. Her house was filled books and recordings of interesting programs and she took copious notes of what she learned and what she was curious about. She read widely about psychology, anthropology, history, biology—you name it. Capitalism tells us we should only be productive for our day jobs when our souls cry out for to new things to learn, know, and create. Read that book, watch that documentary, listen to the podcast. Never stop learning.
2. Embrace change.
In the Parable series, Octavia created the Earthseed philosophy. Earthseed’s main tenet is that “God is Change.”
Consider: Whether you're a human being, an insect, a microbe, or a stone, this verse is true.
All that you touch
You Change.
All that you Change
Changes you.
The only lasting truth
Is Change.
God
Is Change.
This philosophy invites us to be nimble, flexible, courageous, forthright, and self-determined. It emphasizes our agency, even when we lack traditional forms of power. It lets us know that we matter, that our existence has meaning. We don’t have to be stuck. We have the power to shift our world.
3. Focus on community.
Octavia stressed interdependence and community over the human propensity for hierarchy in all her works. She rejected patriarchy, white supremacy, homophobia and other violent systems of power. So many of her works from Patternmaster to Kindred to Survivor show the folly of hierarchal systems. As she once wrote, “There’s nothing new under the sun but there are new suns.” Another world is possible. Her final novel, Fledgling, show humans and vampires (get into it!) living in queer, polyamorous communities living, loving, and working together. We may not be living on a vampire commune, but these lessons are good ones for our own world to consider. Make sure you have a crew that has your back, folks who you are accountable to as we build feminist futures.
4. Manifest your dreams.
Octavia was a working-class Black woman writing and living in a world that discounts Black women’s brilliance. She was also writing in a genre that pretty much focused on white men’s fantasies of the past and visions of the future. Yet and still, Octavia believed that she was worthy of success, joy, pleasure, ease, and rest. In her journals she wrote out her goals, wishes, and desires, like when she wrote “My books will be read by millions of people! So be it! See to it!” We too deserve success, joy, pleasure, ease, and rest. Don’t be afraid to name and claim your desires. You deserve!
5. Persist.
Octavia kept it funky. She did not believe in inspiration. She did not wait for the muse Calliope to tap her on the shoulder so she could write. She believed in habit and persistence, whether or not other folks validated her art. That level of drive and self-determination is so important when trying to thrive in the face of all the isms and general foolishness we face. Get out your watercolors, your clay, or your yarn. Write that poem or screenplay. Your art is important, even if it is just for you. Persist.
There are lots of ways we can celebrate Octavia’s birthday. Read one of her novels or short stories. New to her work? Kindred is always a good place to start—you might even try the dope graphic novel edition. Take a look at Lynell George’s gorgeous artist biography of Octavia. Listen to adrienee maree brown and Toshi Reagon’s fascinating podcast about the Parable novels, Octavia’s Parables. The Carl Brandon Society is hosting a celebration of Octavia’s life and works on June 22nd at 9PM EST/6PM PST. Whatever you do, have a happy Octavia Day!
Octavia’s lessons are so right on. We are worthy, we can manifest, there is more than enough for us all to shine, and we need to be in community and that is how abundance flows - thanks for this. Brilliant article.