Rashid Darden is an award-winning novelist who uses the written word as a vehicle for the advancement of justice and social action. His influences are wide and varied, from Paul Beatty and Saul Williams to Jackie Collins and Stephen King. Because of the dearth of such stories in his literary upbringing, his novels will always include characters who are gay or bisexual men of color.
Rashid’s first three novels are the Potomac University Series, consisting of Lazarus (2005), Covenant (2011), and Epiphany (2012). Each book was published by Old Gold Soul Press to critical acclaim. The novels told the collected stories of Adrian Collins, a gay college sophomore who pledges a predominately black fraternity; how he deals with the cycle of hazing; and how he navigates both family and romantic relationships. The books resonated deeply with many in the African American, LGBT, and fraternal communities, earning Rashid fans that span the generations. A companion volume of poetry entitled The Life and Death of Savion Cortez was released in 2011.
Rashid’s novel Birth of a Dark Nation (2013), the first in the Dark Nation series, tells the stories of African vampires brought to America during the transatlantic slave trade.
His short story “Smith & Jones: Young Americans” was first published in 47 – 16 : Short Fiction and Poetry Inspired by David Bowie (Volume I). In 2019, it will be released for the first time under the Old Gold Soul banner in an anthology called Time.
2019 will also mark the debut of Yours in the Bond, a spin-off of the Potomac University trilogy, in which Eustace Dailey, Jeremy Jacob Carter, and other young professionals stumble out of college and into the so-called “real world.”
In 2017, Rashid’s play Message from ‘The Legba’ was selected as a winner of the OutWrite DC and Theatre Prometheus One Page Play Competition. It was staged in 2018. Rashid won the Elite 25 Award in Literature from Clik Magazine in 2006.
When he is not writing, Rashid teaches. He also spends time volunteering through multiple nonprofit organizations and associations. In his free time, he edits BlackOrgs.net and Divine Nine Lover. Based in the District of Columbia and rural Northeastern North Carolina, he is available for public speaking engagements on a multitude of topics.
2018
Rashid Darden on the importance of the film ‘Black Panther’
2017
- “‘Giving up wasn’t an option’: How one man beat the odds to graduate from college” The Washington Post
2015
- “Black Girls Are Magic literary mag leads to accusations of stolen brand” quoted by The Daily Dot
- “Rashid Darden Elected to Lead Arts Fraternity” Gamma Xi Phi press release
2014
- “Brothers Unite to Bring Vampire Tale to Life” AlphaEast Journal, Volume 1, Number 2
- Paranormal Wednesday with Shonda Brock
- “Look Back in Anger. Or Just Vague Annoyance” essay on Great Black Speakers
2013
- “Culture Shock: How Black Women Steal Gay Black Men’s Slanguage” a guest essay by Rashid Darden at Dopalicious District
- “Shady Shade: Are Straight Black Women Stealing Gay Black Male Language?” by Charing Ball at Madame Noire
- Modern Griots Reviews: Birth of a Dark Nation on Aker: Futuristically Ancient
- “Rashid Darden: Birth of a Great Writer” by David Carus, Artists Run This Planet
- Birth of a Dark Nation: An Interview with the Author by Thomas Williams
- Interview with Gamma Xi Phi Professional Arts Fraternity
- Overview of Lazarus and Covenant from NiqueKenzie
- Town Hall Speaker Series Student Recap by Dejah Moreland
- Interview on Geek Mundo by Estefany Gonzalez
- Projects You Should Support by Stacy Australia
- Author Interview with The Hungry Freelancer
- “Why I Love Teleworking” interview with Telework Portfolio
2012
- Writing to Live: Four Authors You Need to Know by D. A. Steward, Outlook Columbus
- Writing and Ruminating, Washington Blade
- Promoting OutWrite in Lambda Literary and in MetroWeekly
- Georgetown Alumni Career Spotlight
- Shout out from Fire and Ink
- Steven G. Fullwood
- Brief mention in the Washington Blade in advance of DC Black Pride
- Review of Lazarus by Stanley Bennet Clay in GBM News
- “Why You Should Know Rashid Darden” by Anthony Chatman for GAYRVA.com
2008
- “Where is Rashid Darden?” in Living Out Loud with Darian
- “Finding Rashid” also in Living Out Loud with Darian
2006
- “First Annual Clik Magazine Awards a Success” by Jasmyne Cannick
- Preview of “When Oppressed People Oppress” in Athens-Area (Ohio) Women’s Events
2005
- Review of Lazarus in FlavaLife Magazine
- “Rashid Darden, Lazarus Scribe” by Steven G. Fullwood
- Review of Lazarus in Rod 2.0
- Books to Watch Out for in Rod 2.0