Obsidian: Literature and Arts in the African Diaspora
Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora (sometimes referred to as "Obsidian", "Obsidian Lit" or "Obsidian: Literature and Arts in the African Diaspora") is an African-American peer-reviewed critical journal which was first published in 1975 by Alvin Aubert at SUNY (Fredonia) under the name Obsidian: Black Literature in Review. "Obsidian" has undergone a number of name changes and publication venues over the years and, in 2014, editor Duriel E. Harris changed the name to "Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora". The journal is published two times per year through  the Publications Unit at Illinois State University. History. The journal was established through use of Alvin Aubert's own funds and those of various benefactors. Since that time, "Obsidian" has published continuously through financial contributions from individuals, support from various educational institutions, and organizations including the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA). "Obsidian" is a leading publisher of new and established, emerging and contemporary work by artists across the African Diaspora in artistic disciplines including literature, visual, sound and mixed media. Contributors who have achieved notable success include Octavia Butler, Stacey Robinson, Claudia Rankine, Sheree Renée Thomas, Terrance Hayes, Davida  Ingram, Aldon Lynn Nielsen, Wura-Natasha Ogunji. Current masthead. Duriel E. Harris Editor in Chief Sheree Renée Thomas Associate Editor Tara A. Reeser Managing Editor Marva Jackson Lord Web Editor Amanda Fain Technical Editor Amber Laquet Editorial Assistant Editorial Board. Duane Boutté, Drama & Performance Art; Tisa Bryant, Fiction & Hybrid Genre; Nicole Carr, Fiction; Nandi Comer, Poetry; LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs, Digital Media; Krista Franklin, Visual Art; Kermit Frazier, Drama; Danian Jerry, Fiction; Meta DuEwa Jones, Criticism; John Keene, Fiction & Hybrid Genre; Keith Leonard, Criticism; Danielle Littlefield, Fiction; Khanyisile Mbongwa, Visual Arts; Lenard D. Moore, Poetry; Opal Moore, Fiction; Keith Obadike , Digital Media; Rone Shavers, Fiction & Hybrid Genre; Paul Ugor, Criticism & Drama; Tyrone Williams, Poetry; Keith Wilson, Digital Media Advisory and contributing editors. L. Rosanne M. Adderley, Lillian Allen, Houston A. Baker, Jr., Jean-Pierre Bekolo, Kwame Dawes, Madhu Dubey, Isra El-beshir, Sally Ann Ferguson, Charlene Gilbert, Clifford E. Griffin, Tracie D. Hall, Erica Hunt, Tayari Jones, Douglas Kearney, Yakini B. Kemp, Shelia Smith McKoy, T. Urayoán Noel, Sterling D. Plumpp, Tomeka Reid, giovanni singleton, Nancy D. Tolson, Afaa Michael Weaver, Richard Yarborough Former editors emeriti. Alvin Aubert, Gerald Barrax, Afaa Michael Weaver, Doris Laryea, Joyce Pettis, Thomas Lisk, and  Sheila Smith McKoy Awards. "Obsidian" won the Parnassus Award for Significant Editorial Achievement in 2018 for "Obsidian" Volume 42, Speculating Futures: Black Imagination & the Arts ("Duriel E. Harris", Editor, "Sheree Renée Thomas," Guest Editor, "Nisi Shawl," Associate Guest Editor, Fiction, "Isiah Lavender III," Associate Guest Editor, Criticism, "Krista Franklin," Associate Guest Editor, Visual Art). In February 2021, "Obsidian" was approved for an NEA Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) award to support outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and publication. 'With the aim of growing its readership and cultivating new voices, "Obsidian" plans to offer online literary programming at  HBCUs' across the United States. "Obsidian" is one of the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) 2021 grant recipients of the Literary Magazine Fund, launched in 2019 with The Amazon Literary Partnership.