Afrofuturistic Lens In Octavia Butler's Parable Of The Sower

Survival Through an Afrofuturistic Lens

Lauren, the main protagonist in the novel, “Parable of the Sower,” by Octavia Butler realizes that the way things are going in her society are not sustainable and that something must be done about it. Just as it has been shown that black people's grief is transmitted through generations. By making Lauren see that other people have sentiments that are equally as valid as her own, Butler utilizes hyperempathy to protect Lauren and her followers in the dystopian future. Since this makes her more sensitive, she is more likely to take in people on the journey, which helps Lauren expand her group in a world when everyone is out for themselves.
Her hyper-empathy to the feelings of others—a strength in and of

She takes a significant step toward being a leader by giving attention to and learning about her environment, as well as by performing her own research to come to her own perspectives and solutions. She doesn't just worry about what's best for herself; she proactively supports the community around her. Lauren, as a leader, also cultivated the ability to recognize when a shift is necessary for progression. She knows she must be a catalyst for change and remain in tune with the world around her. Her hyper-empathy has undoubtedly helped her thrive. While she avoided assigning ranks, she did say that circumstances determine who takes charge. She argued that everyone has the power to shape change and create their own God in her initial entry on God as change. As a result of the resistance to change in her former community, she was forced to take charge. Many relied on the hope that things would eventually go back to how they were. Lauren believed that success would come to the individual who understood the need of adapting to new circumstances and who planned accordingly. Intuition, empathy and will is key to her success as a leader, in my opinion. Butler argues that women are more than capable of initiating social change and wants the world to know it. She empowered Lauren to break down barriers between the gender

In her vagina empowered anthem "PYNK," Monáe doesn't shy away from challenging societies ideologies. In the film, Monáe and her dancers do a series of intricate arm-locking movements in labia pants and, pink swimsuits, while celebrating their femininity. One of the dancers are seen at a certain point swinging a pink bat between her legs. It's a recognition of the fact that gender isn't defined only by anatomy, and hence an acknowledgment of gender inclusivity. Not only that, but individuals from underrepresented groups should be proud of their bodies, not used for entertainment. Monáe provides a sensitive perspective concerning what it means to celebrate real Black femininity in a culture that often overlooks and engages in the erasure of Black women.
In the same way that Lauren Olamina's hyper-empathy propels her to leadership, in "Dirty Computer" it's Monàe’s empathy that serves as her primary motivation for change through resistance. The memory-erasing machines have been called in because their subjects are deemed unfit for society, yet hopelessness does not rule the story. This dystopian societies dirty computers are plotting to seize control, and they will do it through acts of love. Janelle's will to love is what forces her to resist the