Unlock the Radical Wisdom of Parable of the Sower
A Deep-Dive Class on Octavia Butler’s Prophetic Masterpiece
Why Take This Class?
Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower isn’t just a novel—it’s a survival guide for turbulent times. In this live, interactive class, you’ll:
✔ Decode Butler’s Afrofuturist vision—how did she predict today’s crises?
✔ Explore themes of climate collapse, faith, and community through a social justice lens.
✔ Discuss real-world parallels—from economic inequality to grassroots resistance.
✔ Walk away with actionable insights—how can Butler’s fiction inspire change in your life?
✨ Limited Spots Available—Reserve Yours Now! ✨
This isn’t just a book club—it’s a roadmap for the future. Join us and:
➡ Gain tools to navigate chaos (just like Lauren Olamina).
➡ Connect with critical thinkers who share your passion.
➡ Leave empowered, not just informed.
This course explores Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower (1993), a dystopian novel that follows Lauren Oya Olamina, a young Black woman with hyperempathy, as she navigates a collapsing society and develops her own belief system, Earthseed. Through close reading, discussion, and critical analysis, we will examine the novel’s themes of climate change, systemic inequality, religion, and resilience. Over the course of 6 weeks, you will be sent a link to a YouTube channel where the live class will be held once a week, where you can interact with others in the chat. There will be supplementary material also provided and you will be asked to read the chapters ahead of each class. You will also have access to a Discord channel that allows you to interact with your fellow classmates at any time.
Dates:
May 8th 6:30-7:30 PM
May 15th 6:30-7:30 PM
May 22nd 6:30-7:30 PM
May 29th 6:30-7:30 PM
June 5th 6:30-7:30 PM
June 12th 6:30- 7:30 PM
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, students will:
Analyze Parable of the Sower as a work of speculative fiction and social commentary.
Discuss the novel’s treatment of race, gender, class, and disability.
Evaluate Butler’s vision of community-building in the face of societal collapse.
Connect the novel’s themes to contemporary social and environmental issues.
Weekly Schedule
Week 1: Introduction to Dystopia & Butler’s Worldbuilding
Reading: Prologue–Chapter 4 (pp. 1–60)
Topics:
The dystopian genre and Afrofuturism
Setting: California in 2024 (climate collapse, privatization, violence)
Lauren’s hyperempathy and early journal entries
Activities:
Discussion Board: How does Butler make this dystopia feel eerily plausible?
Short Response: Analyze Lauren’s first journal entry. What does it reveal about her worldview?
Supplemental Materials:
Interview clips of Butler discussing her inspirations
News articles on climate migration
Week 2: Survival and Community in Crisis
Reading: Chapters 5–9 (pp. 61–120)
Topics:
Lauren’s family and neighborhood dynamics
The limits of "gated community" safety
Early signs of Earthseed’s philosophy
Activities:
Discussion Board: Would you stay in Lauren’s neighborhood or leave? Why?
Creative Task: Draft a survival plan for this world (1–2 pages).
Supplemental Materials:
Video on real-life prepper communities and Afrovivalism
Week 3: Earthseed as Religion and Rebellion
Reading: Chapters 10–14 (pp. 103–166)
Topics:
Lauren’s development of Earthseed
The role of faith in a collapsing society
Comparisons to historical religious movements
Activities:
Discussion Board: Is Earthseed more pragmatic than spiritual?
Assignment: Write an Earthseed-style "verse" responding to a modern issue.
Supplemental Materials:
Week 4: Violence, Trauma, and Ethical Choices
Reading: Chapters 15–19 (pp. 167–244)
Topics:
The novel’s depiction of systemic and interpersonal violence
Lauren’s group: How do they define justice?
Hyperempathy’s role in moral decisions
Activities:
Discussion Board: Can Lauren’s group stay ethical while surviving?
Short Essay: Analyze a key moment of violence in the novel.
Supplemental Materials:
Articles on trauma and community resilience
Week 5: Race, Gender, and Power
Reading: Chapters 19-22 (pp. 225–278)
Topics:
Intersectionality in the novel (Lauren as a Black female leader)
How survival hierarchies replicate oppression
Butler’s feminist and anti-racist themes
Activities:
Discussion Board: How does Lauren’s identity shape her leadership?
Assignment: Compare Lauren to a real-world activist (1–2 pages).
Supplemental Materials:
Critical essays on Butler’s feminism
Week 6: The Novel’s Legacy & Final Reflections
Reading: Finish novel Ch 23-Afterword (pp. 279-336) + revisit key passages
Topics:
The ending’s ambiguity: Is Earthseed hopeful or doomed?
Parable of the Sower as prophecy (2020s parallels)
Activities:
Final Project (Choose One):
Option 1: Write a speculative news article from 2050, applying Earthseed principles.
Option 2: Record a 5-min video/podcast on the novel’s relevance today.
Course Wrap-Up Discussion: What lessons does Butler offer for building better futures?
Supplemental Materials:
Excerpts from adrienne maree brown’s Emergent Strategy
2020s climate crisis reports
This course explores Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower (1993), a dystopian novel that follows Lauren Oya Olamina, a young Black woman with hyperempathy, as she navigates a collapsing society and develops her own belief system, Earthseed. Through close reading, discussion, and critical analysis, we will examine the novel’s themes of climate change, systemic inequality, religion, and resilience.