The Octavia Butler Lecture Faith + AI: In Conversation with Ruha Benjiman

Join the Museum for an evening with Ruha Benjamin, an interdisciplinary scholar, educator, cultural worker, and author of Imagination: A Manifesto (2024), Viral Justice (2022), Race After Technology (2019), and People’s Science (2013). Benjamin is a Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and the Founding Director of the Ida B. Wells JUST Data Lab.
 

The evening will begin with a short talk by Dr. Benjamin, followed by a conversation with writer Darnell Moore and author and cultural critic Dr. Susanna Morris on technology, imagination, and faith.
 

A book signing will follow. Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises.
 

Darnell Moore

Darnell Moore is a writer and speaker whose work centers on community, care, and collective liberation. He is known for exploring the role of faith in building connections and supporting social change.
 

Susanna Morris

Dr. Susanna Morris is a storyteller, cultural critic, and co-founder of the Crunk Feminist Collective. She writes about Black feminism, culture, and imagination, including her recent book “Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler.”


Accessibility Information
To support full participation, we welcome attendees to share any accessibility or accommodation needs. Please email your request to NMAAHCPubPgms@si.edu as early as possible. While the Museum will attempt to honor all requests, we kindly ask for at least two weeks’ notice to ensure adequate preparation.


Photo credit: Cyndi Shattuck