Olamina

Olamina is a fictional character from Octavia E. Butler's science fiction novel Parable of the Sower. She is the protagonist and narrator of the story, which is set in a dystopian near-future United States experiencing extreme climate change, social collapse, and widespread poverty. Olamina is a young Black woman living in a walled-off community in Southern California. She possesses a unique ability to feel the "strings" of thoughts and emotions from others, which she interprets as a form of hyperempathy.

As her community deteriorates and is eventually destroyed, Olamina is forced to flee and embark on a perilous journey north. She is driven by a desire to find safety and a place where humanity can rebuild. During her travels, Olamina develops a new religion called Earthseed, which she believes offers a path to survival and eventual interstellar colonization. Earthseed's core tenet is that "God is Change," emphasizing adaptation and forward movement as the fundamental forces of the universe. Olamina's resilience, intelligence, and developing spiritual philosophy make her a central figure in Butler's exploration of social justice, environmentalism, and the human capacity for change.