Los Angeles native Jason Petty, better known as Propaganda, is a rapper, poet, and author with his sights set on forging a better world for everyone through terraforming.
Typically used in the context of science fiction, the word “terraform” refers to the transformation of a planet to make it habitable.
“I first heard the word (terraform) while talking to someone about Mars being made habitable amidst climate change.” Propaganda said. “I thought to myself, ‘But what about the planet we’re on?’.”
Given his background as a high school teacher, Propaganda’s instinct was to explore the idea of terraforming as a writing prompt.
He asked himself what that would be like, creating a better world.
As the son of a former Black Panther, from an early age, Propaganda was exposed to the idea of social change.
“I was probably in junior high when I started to understand what that meant, my father’s involvement with the Panthers.” Propaganda said. “Prior to that, I kind of just assumed that every family was like mine… learning about Malcolm X, reading Angela Davis.”
Early on, he was well-supported by his parents who propelled him to try a myriad of things relating to art and creativity.
“I was raised on the idea that we are our ancestors’ wildest dreams.” Propaganda said.
His parents instilled in him the idea that he is a part of the bigger story of Blackness and is someone who could help push the culture forward. So naturally, when presented with the idea of writing a book, he leaped at the opportunity.
“My manager presented the idea to me and was like, ‘Yo. What do you want to spend the next 10 years talking about?’,” Propaganda said. “I knew it had to be something that I wouldn’t get bored of talking about. My life’s opus, really, has been centered around the human experience. The word ‘terraform’ presented itself to me again and I realized that’s what I’m trying to do, make the planet livable.”
Part prose, part stream of consciousness, “Terraform”, the debut novel by Propaganda invites readers to interact with the book and to ponder the idea of their ideal world. At the end of each chapter, prompts are presented to readers as homework with which to expand on the idea of terraforming.
“Life is big but it starts with yourself,” Propaganda said. “You can’t change the world if you can’t change yourself.”
The author is vulnerable with readers, sharing things he’s learned in his own mental health journey.
The book starts off with a panned-out view of the human experience, so to speak. Throughout each chapter, readers start at the macro level, contemplating celestial bodies and the stars above, eventually winding down to a micro level where all change begins, with the planting of seeds.
In writing “Terraform”, Propaganda felt as though he was using a new muscle, one that differed from that which he typically uses for his music or live poetry readings.
“When I write for a performance, I can map things out. Pregnant pauses, create space for interaction and know that things might vary a little,” Propaganda said. “But with literature, the words have to do all the work. I don’t get to control the experience of the reader.”
In the years since its 2021 debut, “Terraform” has taken on life outside of just being a book. From it, an entire lifestyle brand has been built with everything from clothing to drinkware and coffee.
In the book, there’s a chapter called, “Sacred Soil”. It explores the idea that all that grows from the soil is sacred, we are sacred.
“I was inspired by the narrative of coffee itself. It’s a seed and water…so much can come from that,” Propaganda said. “The message revealed itself…sacred soil, honor the hands that make it (the coffee). Remember your origins, stay grounded, and just enjoy the simplicity.”
Terraform, the coffee, is made with single-origin Ethiopian beans resulting in a brown sugar and citrus taste, with undertones of dark chocolate.
To shop Terraform products and to learn more about the movement, follow this link: https://terraformcoldbrew.com/
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