Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower has become an ever present staple in American literature, and though published in 1993, remains continuously relevant today. With rising mounting concerns surrounding climate change and the proverbial end of the world, Parable of the Sower offers us lessons on survival, community, and striving for a sense of normalcy amongst the chaos. The impact of Butler’s work goes beyond Parable of the Sower, dubbed the godmother of Afrofuturism…

Self described as a “postmodern rhythm & blues woman who’s got something special,” it is no surprise that Toshi Reagon has captured the attention of artists and activists worldwide. Toshi is many things — a musician, writer, composer, and producer just to name a few — and the combination of her skills and voice have created a movement that ties the political to the artistic, to song to the earth, and the personal to the…

During our 2017/2018 Season, we co-produced The White Card written by Claudia Rankine with the American Repertory Theatre. A monumental work of theatre, Rankine’s words resonated with audiences and prompted inquisitive questioning showcasing the power of a skilled writer. As we inched closer to opening night, ArtsEmerson had conducted a book club of Rankine’s work to offer audiences an even deeper experience called Citizen Read. Gathering communities from Boston and Cambridge, nearly 1300 people all…