Celebrating Octavia E. Butler

20 years ago, the literary world lost a giant. Octavia E. Butler was known as the first African American Woman to gain notoriety as a Science Fiction writer. Known for her acute cultural depiction in her dystopian novels, Butler's worldbuilding brought together politics, religion, and the harsh realities of the complicated decisions we make for our own survival. This panel brings together leading scholars of African American religions and speculative fiction to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Octavia Butler's Patternmaster, her first published novel. Themes discussed include the ethical implications of biological engineering, what it means to be human, ethical and unethical uses of power, and community building.