adrienne maree brown: Octavia Butler’s Visions of the Future Have Transformed Generation of Readers

Summary

In this discussion, writer and activist Adrian Marie Brown, co-editor of 'Octavia's Brood,' and musician Toshi Reagon delve into the legacy of Octavia Butler, a pioneering Black female sci-fi author. They explore her biography, her significant contributions to literature, and her visionary storytelling, particularly in 'Parable of the Sower' and 'Parable of the Talents.' Brown highlights Butler's creation of strong, Black female protagonists and her role in shaping Afrofuturism, a genre that reclaims and imagines Black futures. The conversation also touches on Butler's influence on contemporary writers and her portrayal of women grappling with power structures.

Takeaways

• 📚 Octavia Butler was a prolific writer who contributed 12 novels and a collection of short stories to the world of literature.
• 🌟 Her work is characterized by a visionary approach to exploring humanity's survival on Earth and challenging readers with complex, compelling narratives.
• 🏙️ Butler's stories often feature protagonists traveling north, reflecting her own journey and the broader theme of seeking refuge and change.
• 🔮 The concept of 'visionary fiction' introduced by Butler and her contemporaries involves looking ahead to the future and envisioning a place for oneself within it.
• ✍️ Butler's writing process was driven by a 'positive obsession', waking up at odd hours to pen her stories, showing her dedication to her craft.
• 🌱 Her early inspiration came from a desire to write something better than what she saw in science fiction, leading to the creation of her own unique stories.
• 🔮 Afrofuturism, a genre that Butler is often associated with, is about reclaiming a future for black people and people of African descent that is rooted in African heritage.
• 👩‍💼 Butler's characters, particularly black women, are strong and lead the narratives, challenging societal norms and expectations of their capabilities.
• 🌐 Her work transcends the specific focus on black women to resonate with a universal audience, reflecting the essence of feminism and equality.
• 🎨 Despite the challenges, including publishers' decisions that contradicted her vision, Butler's legacy has influenced significant changes in representation in literature.

Q & A

Who are Adrian Marie Brown and Toshi Regan, and what is their connection to Octavia Butler?

Adrian Marie Brown is a writer and activist, and Toshi Regan is a musician. They co-host 'Octavius Parables,' a podcast that deeply explores Octavia Butler's books 'Parable of the Sower' and 'Parable of the Talents.'

What is the significance of Octavia Butler's work in the literary world?

Octavia Butler's work is significant as it provides a visionary look at societal issues and human survival on the planet. Her writing is characterized by compelling storytelling that challenges readers to consider complex themes and futures.

What is the term 'visionary fiction' as coined by Walida Imarisha, and how does it relate to Octavia Butler's work?

Walida Imarisha coined the term 'visionary fiction' to describe a genre that looks ahead at the future and writes marginalized voices into it. Octavia Butler's work is an example of visionary fiction, as she wrote about futures that included black and feminist perspectives.

How did Octavia Butler's early life experiences influence her writing?

Octavia Butler was inspired to write at a young age after watching 'Devil Girl from Mars,' which led her to create her own stories. Her writing process was driven by a 'positive obsession,' waking up early to write and explore themes of community, organizing, and change.

What is the concept of Afrofuturism, and how does it relate to Octavia Butler's legacy?

Afrofuturism is a cultural movement that explores the intersection of African heritage and technology to articulate a future for people of African descent. Octavia Butler's work is foundational in Afrofuturism, as she wrote stories that centered black characters and futures.

How did Octavia Butler's writing process differ from traditional methods?

Octavia Butler's writing process was characterized by waking up at 3 a.m. to write, driven by what she called 'positive obsession.' She wrote her 'Patternist' series backwards, starting with the last book and working her way to the origin story.

What is the significance of the 'Earthseed' belief system in 'Parable of the Sower'?

The 'Earthseed' belief system in 'Parable of the Sower' is significant as it represents the protagonist's internal strength and destiny, allowing her to overcome oppression and lead others towards a greater future.

How does Octavia Butler's work address the representation of black women in literature?

Octavia Butler's work addresses the representation of black women by creating strong, leading characters who defy expectations and limitations placed upon them. Her characters often grapple with power structures and demonstrate resilience and leadership.

What was Octavia Butler's approach to feminism in her writing?

Octavia Butler's approach to feminism in her writing was to create characters that were equal to anyone else and capable of leading. She wrote about black women and black futures but in a way that appealed to all human beings, emphasizing equality and shared humanity.

How did Octavia Butler's work challenge the publishing world's norms?

Octavia Butler's work challenged the publishing world's norms by featuring strong black feminine characters in leading roles, which was not common at the time. An example is the publisher's decision to put two white women on the jacket of 'Dawn,' a novel with a black main character.

What impact has Octavia Butler's work had on the genres of African Futurism and Black Speculative Fiction?

Octavia Butler's work has had a profound impact on the genres of African Futurism and Black Speculative Fiction by providing a foundation for black and African-descended writers to create stories that center their experiences and envision their futures.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Discussing Octavia Butler’s Legacy with Adrienne Marie Brown

Adrienne Marie Brown, a writer and activist, speaks about Octavia Butler's influence, discussing her legacy through the podcast 'Octavia's Parables,' which Brown co-hosts. They explore Butler's visionary fiction, particularly the 'Parable' series. Brown highlights Butler's prophetic vision of societal issues, how her writing was shaped by personal experiences, and her dedication to questioning humanity's survival in her work. The importance of Butler's contributions to social justice movements is also discussed, linking her influence to modern storytelling and activism.

05:02

📚 Octavia Butler’s Work Ethic and Afrofuturism

Brown elaborates on Butler’s early inspiration for writing, starting with her reaction to 'The Devil Girl from Mars.' She explains Butler’s disciplined writing process, describing her dedication as a 'positive obsession.' Butler’s Patternist series is discussed, including how she wrote the series backward. Brown also delves into Butler’s prophetic insight, particularly in the 'Parable' books, and her deep reflection on societal issues. Afrofuturism is explored as a genre that reclaims Black identity and projects African futures, with Butler’s work being foundational in this space.

Keywords

💡Octavia Butler

Octavia Butler was an influential African American science fiction writer known for her exploration of social issues through speculative fiction. In the script, her significance in literature is highlighted by her ability to create compelling narratives that address humanity's survival and societal structures. Her work is celebrated for its visionary quality, as she often explored themes of race, gender, and power in futuristic settings.

💡Parity of the Sower and Parity of the Talents

These are two novels by Octavia Butler that are central to the podcast 'Octavius Parables' mentioned in the script. They are part of a series where Butler explores a dystopian future and the human condition. The novels are discussed as a means to delve deeply into Butler's literary universe and her commentary on contemporary societal issues.

💡Afrofuturism

Afrofuturism is a cultural movement that combines African Diaspora culture, technology, and science fiction aesthetics. In the script, it is described as a genre where black people and people of African lineage are writing themselves back into the narrative of the future, creating stories rooted in African heritage and envisioning an African future. Octavia Butler is often cited as a pioneer in this genre.

💡Visionary Fiction

Visionary fiction, as mentioned by Walida Imarisha in the script, is a term used to describe speculative fiction that looks ahead to the future and writes marginalized voices into it. It is a genre that aims to inspire change and envision a better future, which aligns with Octavia Butler's work as she often wrote about characters overcoming oppression and finding their destiny.

💡Patternist Series

The Patternist Series is one of Octavia Butler's notable works, which she began writing at a young age. The series is mentioned in the script as an example of Butler's early creative vision and her unique approach to storytelling, as she wrote the series in reverse order, starting with the last installment and working backward to explore the origins of her characters and their world.

💡Positive Obsession

Positive obsession refers to the intense, focused passion that Octavia Butler had for her writing. As described in the script, she would wake up at three in the morning to write, driven by this 'positive obsession' to bring her stories to life. This term encapsulates the dedication and determination that Butler had towards her craft.

💡Earthseed

Earthseed is a belief system created by Octavia Butler for her Parable novels. It is a fictional religion that emphasizes the importance of humanity's survival and the need to adapt and evolve. In the script, Earthseed is mentioned as a tool that Butler's characters use to align themselves with a greater destiny, beyond the confines of societal oppression.

💡Feminism

Feminism is a social and political movement advocating for gender equality and the rights of women. In the context of the script, Octavia Butler's work is recognized for its feminist themes, particularly in the representation of strong, black female protagonists who challenge and overcome societal power structures. Her writing is seen as an example of how to depict women, especially black women, with agency and complexity.

💡Publishing World

The publishing world is referenced in the script to discuss the challenges that Octavia Butler faced, such as the publisher's decision to use images of white women on the cover of her novel 'Dawn,' despite the main character being black. This highlights the systemic biases and issues within the publishing industry that Butler and other authors of color have had to navigate.

💡Black Speculative Fiction

Black speculative fiction is a sub-genre of speculative fiction that centers on the experiences and perspectives of black people. The script mentions this genre as part of the broader movement of afrofuturism, where black authors are creating narratives that envision futures and alternate realities for black communities, often in response to historical and ongoing marginalization.

Highlights

Adrian Marie Brown and Toshi Regan co-host 'Octavius Parables', a podcast exploring Octavia Butler's works.

Octavia Butler's significance in literature includes her visionary look at current events.

Butler wrote 12 novels and a collection of short stories, exploring human survival on Earth.

Butler's writing process involved waking up at 3 a.m. due to a 'positive obsession' with her stories.

Butler's work is described as 'visionary fiction', looking ahead to the future and writing ourselves into it.

Butler's early inspiration came from 'Devil Girl from Mars', leading her to start writing her own stories.

Butler's 'Patternist' series was conceived at a young age and written backwards.

Butler's writing was a response to the world around her, feeling terrified and seeking change.

Afrofuturism is an arena where black people are writing themselves back into the future.

Butler is recognized as a deeply feminist writer, representing strong black feminine characters.

Butler's characters often grapple with real-world power structures, including within the publishing world.

Butler's protagonists are young black women leading the narrative, a powerful statement at the time.

Characters in Butler's 'Parables' series align with a greater destiny beyond oppression.

Butler's work appeals to all human beings, reflecting the essence of feminism.

Butler's legacy includes her influence on the genres of Afrofuturism and Black speculative fiction.

Transcripts

to talk more about octavi octavia

butler's legacy we're joined by the

writer and activist

adrian marie brown she and the musician

toshi regan

co-host octavius parables a podcast that

dives deeply into

octavia butler's books parable of the

sower and parable of the talents

adrian marie brown is also co-editor of

the book octavia's brewed

science fiction stories from social

justice movements

she's joining us from detroit it's great

to have you with us adrian in fact the

last time we had you on we were talking

about octavia

um if you can just briefly talk about

her biography

and then her significance in the world

of literature

but also this visionary look at what's

happening

today yes

well thanks for the opportunity to share

i love speaking about octavia

i'll talk about her every day if i can

she gave us 12 novels

and a collection of short stories and

she took us as she took herself from

california

she drove across country to get the

story for kindred

she took herself north to seattle and

one of the most famous stories that we

just heard about the parables

is her protagonist character making her

way north

and as octavia learned and as she

questioned and as she wondered how

were humans going to find a way to

survive on this planet

she asked those questions and brought

them into the text and in her text we

see all the ways that she was trying to

answer

those questions trying to trouble the

waters trying to give us nothing easy

but something super compelling to look

forward to so

the work that she did walida imarisha

and i when we did octavia's brood

walida called it visionary fiction to

look ahead at the future and then write

ourselves

in and that's what octavia was doing

with all of her work and talk about her

life

what led her to write we've heard some

of her describing that herself

and the whole genre of

afrofuturism what that means

yes so she talks about this that when

she was i think 9 10 years old she saw

the devil girl from mars and she said i

could write something better than that

and so she started to write things um

she started to write her own short

stories her own novels

and she had the idea for the patternist

series when she was quite young and kept

writing and kept writing it ended up

being her first

novel she wrote the series backwards so

if you read the stories i always love

knowing that that

when you read the pattern master that

was the first one but then she

wrote backwards to find out the source

of that story how we would get there

but she was a worker so she was a

laborer she was always working and her

writing process would be waking up at

three o'clock in the morning

because she needed to do it she had what

she called positive obsession

a positive obsession with moving these

stories out and

i think it would be remiss of me not to

say that just like many of

us she was looking at the world around

her and feeling terrified

and feeling like how are we going to

change this what happens if this goes

on and it led her to write things it

ended up feeling

very prophetic you know in the parables

there's a president who runs for office

on the slogan make america great

and there's a way that she took what was

happening around her what she

saw as a very shy introverted

um powerful black woman um

with a super sexy underbite um

she was looking at the world around her

and and figuring out like how do i think

about community how do i think about

organizing how do i think about change

and so that's that's how she did it in

her lifetime she wrote it onto these

pages for us

um afrofuturism i will say uh

is a thrilling to me a thrilling arena

and now there's african futurism

there's black speculative fiction

there's all these arenas where basically

black people and

people of african lineage are saying we

were

almost erased from the lineage right

people wanted to erase us and have us

just be labor

we're writing ourselves back in we're

writing ourselves back in we're creating

stories that

are rooted in african heritage and that

articulate an african future

so it's a it's exciting place it's an

exciting arc to be inside of as a

creator

she's also seen obviously as a deeply

feminist writer

how are women especially black women

represented in her work

and how do they grapple with the real

world power structures i mean even the

publishing world

you have this example of um

in 1987 the publisher still insisted on

putting two white women on the jacket of

her novel dawn

whose main character is black

yes i mean so much has changed there

because of the work of octavia because

of the work of nedi okorafor

because of the work of tanatari do but

i think one of the things that was so

powerful to me when i first picked up

octavia is that she wrote these

strong black feminine characters these

protagonists

who now you might look back and be see

the non-binary see the queerness see

other things in them but at the time

she was writing these characters it was

like oh there's young black women

and they're leading and what happened

over and over again in the stories and

you see this over and over again

is that people doubted their capacity

not only to lead but to be

of use in any way and then her

characters rather than pushing rather

than fighting

they would turn inward they would gather

themselves and get aligned with what

they thought

so in the parables it's the earth seed

belief system they would get a line and

be like i have a greater destiny

than your oppression and my destiny will

take me beyond anything

your oppression can hold me from and

then over and over again we watch those

characters follow that path of destiny

and take themselves and anyone who wants

to come with them beyond

which i also think is important because

she wrote about black women

and about black feminism about black

futures but she wrote in a way that

appealed to all human beings and i think

that

that to me is one of the essence of

feminism it's like we're not saying

we're better than or beyond we're saying

we are

right here equal to anyone else and able

to lead as much as anyone else

so she she understood that she wrote it

beautifully