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An example of things to come begins with the newly inaugurated Trump's plans to round up and deport illegal immigrants who are presumed to be criminals, even as he issues a pardon to the thousands of January 6th rioting insurrectionists who tried to overturn a Presidential election and lynch the Vice President, seriously injuring several law enforcement officers in the process. "Our way or the highway" will obviously be the mission statement of the newly- elected regime and its bigoted and oligarch followers. (All under the supervision and approval of King Donald's Prime Minister, Elon Musk.) "Welcome to the new Golden Age that will make America great again," Trump proclaims. Puleeze. More like a Tarnished Era that will make America "grate" again. What a farce!

Amazingly, the media and other side of the coin seem to fall right in line. Many of the same people who were against this clown in one way or another have done an about face and they're either kissing his azz or pretending that he's not going reinforce white supremacy and nationalism. Let's see if the Democrats file a bunch of lawsuits to challenge the constitutionality of whatever POTUS OJ (Orange Jackazz) and his clown car full of sycophants and cronies write up from immigration to rolling back DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) and anything white folks don't particularly want in their country. POTUS OJ signed a bunch of executive orders yesterday evening. He'll probably sign the rest of them while sitting on the sh8tter today. They claim it's close to 200 executive orders. Meanwhile, POTUS OJ whined about POTUS PJB (Papa Joe Biden) signing pardons 20 minutes before his term ended. Having a sense of humor will go a long way over the next 4 years. There will be no shortage of comedic source material.😎

THOUGHTS AS I VIEWED 0:03 Octavia Butler's grave is still standing, survived the fires 0:05 introductions by Steven Barnes + Tananarive Due image 1 0:09 Steven says Afro futurism is our, black peoples, flavor of science fiction image 2 image 3 image 4 0:11 Science Fiction principles, one of three: what if, if only, if this goes on 0:15 How Steven Barnes met Octavia Butler image 5 0:16 Butler said human beings are hierarchal, and people put themselves higher on the levels. 0:17 At Clark university was the first black science fiction convention image 6 0:20 Octavia Butler was honest about the conditions and had a pessimism that she questioned into her work image 7 image 8 image 9 0:31 Steven says Creating art is a way of communicating things in words 0:32 Ray Bradbury, who didn't drive image 10 image 11 0:34 Steven felt Ray Bradbury's work was the warmest that he read Steven and his girlfriend at the time, took a story to Ray Bradbury . Great story on steven getting his first two letters from Ray Bradbury. 0:36 Butler was penniless till an mcarthur grant. Steven admitted he wasn't interested in living in poverty. he had to compromise his own voice working with a team to make a wage. 0:39 It is funny, at times I am so serious. Many around me suggest I need to lighten up. Maybe I shall listen:) Ray Bradbury said: I don't believe in being serious about anything. I think life is too serious to be taken seriously. Tananarive said Butler became despondant at times. 0:42 Bradbury's rules for writing. image 12 Write short stories, quantity creates quality. Tell the truth first Don't think too hard, especially in the first draft. Write what you love Study the work of the masters, the work that has survived for generations Take off the safety harness Use every experience that touches you Indulge in your own personal madness Don't be afraid to write crap, either Get comfortable with the idea of work image 13 image 14 image 15 0:50 Tananarive's work and Steven's work image 16 My thought: both writers visual examples display themes that reflect themselves. 0:54 Barnes said if you see a lack, you should write that lack 0:59 image 17 image 18 1:02 writing futurism course [ www.writerwebinar.com ] image 19 image 20 image 21 1:04 they will teach how to teach image 22 image 23 1:07 marketing tools from Due and Barnes, and aids. Affordable. image 24 image 25 1:10 stress and strain image 26 1:12 breathing, diaphragmatic breathing image 27 image 28 image 29 Questions and Answers 1:25 Steven Barnes: if you are just by yourself, you have to take care of yourself. Morning ritual of movement gratitude, motion. 1:28 They have a free zoom meeting every weekend 1:44 [ https://www.steven-barnes.com/live-classes ] steven barnes lion blood https://a.co/d/aV8XTDJ https://iloveafrofuturism.com/

I enjoyed this commentary and also appreciate the couple. For at least 20 years, I've avoided Octavia Butler books, telling myself , “I'm not into sci-fi.” During that time I've also known the importance of her work and how imperative it would be for me to delve into it at some point. Many years ago I purchased her book Kindred from a book sale. Having read the story line, it seemed like one I'd be able to get into when I was ready. Fast forward to January 2025, and I receive an invite from colleagues to join a book club for the reading of Parable of the Sower and an offer to pick up a copy of the text. Interesting. I started reading Kindred a day before that email and am very much engrossed in the text. Afrofuturism is definitely the key to my ability to engage with sci-fi. I'm not sure how things will go with Parable of the Sower, but I did accept the invite and look forward to reading the book and discussing with others.

And Black America can and will do that on the very same day that Racism no longer exists! People tend to play the cards they're dealt in life. You want Black people to stop playing the "race card"....stop dealing it to them.