- Publisher: Old Gold Soul Press
- Available in: Paperback, Ebook
- ISBN: 978-1-7347228-4-0
- Published: April 15, 2025
The silence of a spiritual community is shattered by the murder of one of their own.
Jordan and Rahman Gaffney-Bruce, newly married men, move into the eccentric Washington neighborhood known as Slope to start building a life together. Built precariously on a hill, Slope is home to descendants of the Great Migration and is now a lower middle class Black community trapped in a cycle of spiritual depression.
In the midst of this community, the Gaffney Bruces gather with the other residents every Sunday in quiet prayer and contemplation, in hopes that their collective dreams will be realized: To be seen. To be known. To thrive—on their own terms.
Alongside them is Pops, the quiet old man who has seen it all; Miss Sandra, the matriarch and maven of Sunday dinners; Royce, one of the few good cops left; and the Gang of Four—soft-spoken Peek, angry Korey, flamboyant Ziggy, and Gino, the natural leader.
When one of the youths is felled by gun violence, generations-old secrets threaten to unravel the serenity of this peculiar community.
A Peculiar Legacy:
A Novel by Rashid Darden
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Praise for A Peculiar Legacy:
“In A Peculiar Legacy, Rashid Darden–a prolific, African-American, gay Quaker writer–integrates his concerns as a native Washingtonian with communal life in a mixed-class African American neighborhood, adult mentoring of remarkable, but at risk young people, and a community-sustaining spirituality. His story and characters are funny, poignant, illuminating, surprising, tragic, bawdy, and redemptive. I wept reading the last chapter.” Steve Chase, author of Letters to a Fellow Seeker: A Short Introduction to the Quaker Way.
“With A Peculiar Legacy, Rashid Darden shows that he is at the top of his writing game. Indeed, a spectacular novel.” Frederick Smith, author, One and Done and Down For Whatever.
“Rashid Darden excels at crafting richly layered characters with unwavering resilience. Authentic dialogue skillfully captures the heart of a Washington, D.C. community striving to survive and flourish amid constant adversity. The voices in Slope feel intimately familiar, resonating with a powerful message of hope.” Kia DuPree, author of Robbing Peter, Damaged, Silenced, Shattered, and Disentangled.
“Rashid Darden’s A Peculiar Legacy pulled me into a world where history and mysticism intertwine, long-held traditions echo across generations, and tenderness emerges in the most unexpected places. Set against a backdrop of risk and revelation, Darden crafts a novel as bold as it is immersive. This book lingers long after the final page—unsettling, moving, and utterly original.” Peterson Toscano, performance artist, storyteller, and co-host of Quakers Today podcast.
“Darden has woven an amazing literary tapestry of lives shared and shaped in a DC enclave filled with tragedy, forgiveness, learning, acceptance and a commitment to community. An exceptional novel filled with memorable and relatable characters.” La Toya Hankins, author of K-Rho: The Sweet Taste of Sisterhood and SBF Seeking.
“I love Slope, the DC community that Darden created. He populated it with not just colorful characters, but with history and layers to uncover and discover. Through masterful storytelling, Darden peels back these layers and reveals the very soul of this community, and how its soulfulness and devotion to each other help it during difficult times.” Gar McVey-Russell, author of Sin Against the Race
“A lad…takes us on a “Peculiar” journey of prayer, migration, and maturing in a DC quite familiar to me. The “Legacy” calls us to a journey of self-discovery and meditation fixed on a Slope whose folks invite us in. I want more of this community.” Rev. Raymond B. Kemp, Georgetown University.
“A Peculiar Legacy investigates the question, ‘What if there were a community that truly embodied the Quaker belief in “answering that of God in everyone?”‘ The story paints a picture of embracing the principles of beloved community even when faced with injustice and oppression. While I wish I could move into the story’s Slope neighborhood, the book makes it clear that each of us has the capacity to plant seeds that can blossom as love.” Lauren Brownlee.
“The novel combines four major storylines…Rashid does an incredible job not only of telling each story individually but also of connecting them throughout the novel. For example, one would not think that the romantic journey of a queer couple, new to Slope, could tie in with the religious traditions of the community that had existed long before the new couple arrived, but Rashid connects them beautifully.” Mabon Finch
“I was truly immersed in the setting, the sounds, and the culture while reading. At several points throughout, I was moved to tears due to the beautiful writing and the depth of the characters…As a DC native, the setting felt like a love story to a place I call home. This book was truly an unforgettable read that I will think about often.” Leroy Richardson
“The vivid descriptions of Slope and its inhabitants immediately drew me into A Peculiar Legacy. I cared about the characters and what happened to them. I was curious at how this tightly-knit neighborhood came to worship in the manner of Friends, though not identifying as Quakers, and I thought of the Seed carried to fertile soil near and far. Like Black Fire: African American Quakers on Spirituality and Human Rights, Rashid Darden’s A Peculiar Legacy will open eyes to the fact that Quakers are a diverse group of people.” Audrey Greenhall, Manager of QuakerBooks of FGC and QuakerPress of FGC.
“I love this book; was sometimes thrilled by it — especially its dramatic climax. Fiction exists to take us to other worlds, to see through other eyes, and in that, the book amply succeeds.” Mitchell Santine Gould, author of Kelson of the Creation
“Rashid Darden invites readers to explore a vision of diversity within the Religious Society of Friends, offering a much-needed lamp post for the ongoing conversation regarding the future of Quakerism. His message emphasizes community, friendship, spiritual dryness and renewal, historical erasure, and rediscovery. It is a welcomed addition to literature that highlights the lived experiences of urban Black Americans in spaces where voices are often overlooked, invited but not fully welcomed, or reduced to simplistic stereotypes, neglecting lives full of texture, vibrancy, and complexity. This book presents a unique perspective about a peculiar people told in a way that invites both spiritual seekers and lovers of stories that center on Black, urban, and queer experiences.” Lynette Davis, SFCC, writer for Illuminate: Quaker Bible study curriculum and contributing author of God’s Grace: Comforting, Guiding, Supporting
“In an accessible way, the book discusses religious syncretization, colonization, gentrification, and consent. Faith traditions can overshadow community-led practices that ritualize the grieving process. A Peculiar Legacy instead reveals useful traditions that are both community-led and intergenerational.” Loraine Hutchins, PhD; bisexual Washingtonian who helped put the “B” in LGBTQ
“How could a book that features issues concerning urban life, race, sex, aging, money, marriage and other forms of living together, education, religion, ambition, responsibility, and self-image not be intriguing and hold your attention? Well, just in case, Darden throws in a murder! And that surprise provides a focal point for both the characters and their stories.” Peirce Hammond
“A Peculiar Legacy begins with a murder but it is not so much a story about death but rather about how we live—how people come together in challenging moments—and how love stays alive in the midst. It is a beautiful story.” Steven Cleaver, author of the award-winning novel Saving Erasmus.
“When asked during an interview inspired by Marcel Proust’s Drawing Room Confessions, ‘Who are your favorite writers?’ I replied, ‘Octavia Butler, followed by Rashid Darden—both tell powerful, necessary stories.’ A Peculiar Legacy proves my point. Darden weaves a masterful whodunit populated by characters who are vibrant and nuanced. It’s an arresting tale, complete with cameos from beloved figures across his literary universe.” Tony Lamair Burks II, author, Bought Wisdom: Tales of Living and Learning and The Journey to Authenticity: 8 Secrets to Getting the Life You Desire (with Mitchell L. Jones)
“…details of each character, their internal and external struggles, and their personal growth and development will resonate with you so deeply, that it feels like your neighborhood and not fictional at all. The ease of the text and the imagery used by the author will make you see the neighborhood, smell the air, and feel the pain that each character has endured. The text also offers an intimate glimpse of the Quaker religion, specifically as experienced by people of color. It moves you to seek your own path to spirituality and listen through silence.” I highly recommend not just reading, but ingesting this book by first reviewing the thought-provoking queries for worship and book club questions in the back of the book which are provided by the author. In the end, you will feel like you too are from “The Slope” and no matter what life brings you, embrace your journey and your village.” Ja’Sent Brown
A Peculiar Tour
- April 6, 2025: Black Men Speak Podcast [Recording available; click to listen]
- April 13, 2025: Leave it to Cleaver WECI 91.5 FM
- May 23-26, 2025: DC Black Pride, Capitol Hilton
- Sunday, June 1, 2025: Friends Meeting of Washington (Tentative)