Octavia Estelle Butler

Octavia Estelle Butler was born on June 22, 1947. She was raised religious, by her mother and grandmother after her father’s death when she was almost four years old. For a brief time, she also lived with her two uncles, each like a father to her. Octavia was an only child, the only who survived after her mother’s five pregnancies. As a result, her mother was very protective of her.

Octavia was born against the backdrop of World War II and the coming Cold War and Space Race. As such, she discovered an interest in science fiction uncommon for a young Black girl. All of the stories were written by and starring white men, and she wanted to carve out a place for Black girls to be included in the genre.

Octavia was a child with a vivid imagination and struggled in school due to...