A Black Feminist Sci Fi Conversation

Octavia Butler, pioneer in African American Science Fiction

A few weeks ago, I was lucky to have the opportunity to spend some time with students in Liz Cali's Toni Morrison class.  Though not with them in person, we discussed (via phone) various issues and ideas related to genre and how some of Morrison's texts might be classified perhaps as science fiction, but certainly as speculative fiction.

We began our talk with information about genre, specifically the genre of speculative fiction and how horror, science fiction, and fantasy are often considered distinct and separate categories under the larger umbrella of speculative fiction.  Black feminist science fiction authors often combine elements from those ostensibly distinctive sub-genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy.  

Octavia Butler, the original 20th century pioneer in Black feminist science fiction (and Black science fiction, largely), crossed through these categories in many of her texts and story lines.  She creates provocative and powerful texts about Black women's experiences - on Earth and beyond.  Butler incorporates elements of science fiction (time travel, aliens), horror (vampires and the undead), and fantasy (individuals with unique, even magical powers).  As an author, Butler chose to go beyond the supposed borders that separate sub-genres identified by many as "speculative fiction."

In our conversation, I asked students: could we consider Morrison a science fiction author?  A horror author?  Fantasy? While many literary critics would gasp and even cringe at the thought of placing Morrison's work in these undervalued and dismissed categories, these students took the time to work through their responses and ideas with open and inquisitive minds.

This conversation was valuable in numerous ways because it not only gave me some time to talk about my literary passion, African American Feminist Science Fiction, but the students responded with incredibly thoughtful and thought-provoking questions, comments, and feedback.  Depending on our teaching environments (university, college, secondary), we may not make room for these important meetings of minds and I was grateful to Cali for facilitating this opportunity.  

This talk wasn't a keynote address or conference panel, nor was it a committee meeting, professional development session, or any of the other events academics either strive for or loath.  It was the type of engagement we should perhaps encourage more - a space where students listen to ideas, but are also provided time to be listened to. I really got a kick out of the students sharing their comments and questions, and am grateful to them for urging me to think in productive ways about Morrison, Butler, and African American speculative fictions.