Shifting Realities and Sowing the Seeds of a Better Future: Mestiza Consciousness and Conocimiento in Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower
Keywords:
Octavia Butler, Gloria Anzaldúa, Parable of the Sower, Mestiza consciousness, Earthseed philosophy, self-transformationAbstract
This article analyzes the intersection of Gloria Anzaldúa's mestiza consciousness and Octavia Butler’s Earthseed philosophy as depicted in Butler’s novel Parable of the Sower. The paper explores how both authors advocate for the eradication of rigid hierarchical binaries that divide people based on race, class, age, and sexual orientation. By examining Anzaldúa’s Borderlands/La Frontera and Butler’s Parable of the Sower, this study investigates their shared vision of self-transformation and individual agency as catalysts for global change. The article argues that both writers employ subversive use of multiple genres to challenge traditional writing and promote a more inclusive worldview. This work demonstrates how Lauren Olamina’s Earthseed philosophy aligns with Anzaldúa’s spiritual activism, emphasizing the dynamic nature of God and human agency in shaping reality.(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)
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