Revelation as Reality: Star Trek Deep Space Nine's "Far Beyond the Stars" and Black Prophetic Visions

Abstract

Star Trek Deep Space Nine's episode "Far Beyond the Stars" positions Captain Benjamin Sisko and his alter ego Benny Russell as Black prophetic voices. Star Trek Deep Space Nine engages Black visions for the future in the form of Benjamin Sisko's role as the Emissary to the Prophets. Sisko/Russell's prophetic presence calls to mind the ancient Hebrew prophets, the book of Revelation, and the prophetic vision of life beyond oppression. Science fiction as prophetic imagination has the potential to show us better worlds.