Bioethics & Race with Yolonda Wilson

Parable of the Talents is the sequel to Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower and continues the story of Lauren Olamina, the founder of the Earthseed movement. The novel is set in a dystopian America where Lauren has established a community called Acorn, centered around her Earthseed beliefs. However, Acorn is attacked and taken over by the Christian American 'Crusaders,' leading to the enslavement and brutal treatment of its members. The story is told through journal entries by Lauren, her husband Taylor Franklin Bankole, and her daughter Larkin Olamina (also known as Asha Vere). It explores themes of survival, faith, and the struggle against oppression, as well as the complexities of religious power and the human quest for purpose. The novel ultimately sees the rise of Earthseed as a powerful religious movement and Lauren's vision of humanity's destiny to colonize other planets.

In 'Dying of Whiteness,' Jonathan M. Metzl explores the unintended public health consequences of right-wing backlash policies related to taxes, gun control, social safety nets, and healthcare. Through field interviews, research, and public-health data gathered in Missouri, Tennessee, and Kansas, Metzl shows how these policies, despite being marketed to benefit white Americans, actually increase deaths by gun suicide, lower life expectancies, and raise dropout rates. The book highlights the paradox of whiteness, where the pursuit of white privilege leads to detrimental health outcomes for both white and non-white populations.

Published in 1993, 'Parable of the Sower' is a dark and vivid portrayal of a future where global climate change and economic crises have led to social chaos. The story is told through the diary entries of Lauren Olamina, a 15-year-old Black girl living in a gated community near Los Angeles. Lauren suffers from hyperempathy, a condition that makes her feel the pain and pleasure of others. As her community is destroyed by external threats, Lauren embarks on a perilous journey north, developing a new faith called Earthseed along the way. Earthseed's central doctrine is that 'God is Change' and cannot be resisted, but can be influenced. The novel explores themes of survival, faith, family, hope, and community in a world torn apart by environmental devastation, economic collapse, and violence.