Rashid Darden

Six years ago today, Davane Williams died. Davane was my student. Davane was my friend. Davane was my son.

Davane existed.

My novel, A Peculiar Legacy, is very much a tribute and memorial to him and every other Black boy and young man who has been lost to gun violence.

But this novel is not just a memorial. It's a slice of life from a community. It mourns those who died even as others live. It remembers our past as migrants from the South. It celebrates our joys as communities change and grow. It pays tributes to our battles of the Civil Rights Movement. It uplifts all Black lives: gay and straight, cis and trans, well-off and poor.

It's about education, formal and informal. It's about hope. It's about love. It's about time.

This is the cover of my novel A Peculiar Legacy, designed by Sarah Katreen Hoggatt.

For those of you who were promised an advance review copy, they're coming. To those itching to download or purchase a copy, please mark April 15 in your calendars and bookmark https://www.rashiddarden.com/book/a-peculiar-legacy/

A Test Post for 2022

This is a test post written from my mobile device. This is the first time I’ve attempted to blog from my phone. I am not sure if I am already noted by this. However, the Gutenberg blocks seem to be intuitive. Rashid Darden I seem to be having some issues uploading images, though. Stay tuned.

The Quaker Wore Giuseppes.

Honorable Mention – Genre Fiction- North Street Book Prize

I have been awarded Honorable Mention in Genre Fiction for the North Street Book Prize! Continue reading