Perhaps surprisingly there are very few anthologies devoted to science fiction by African American writers -- primarily just this pair compiled by Sheree R. Thomas in the early 2000s. Thomas consciously evokes the astrophysical concept of dark matter as a metaphor for the widespread influence of "preeminent and emerging authors of the African diaspora," from W.E.B. Du Bois to Octavia E. Butler. The first book also includes essays by Samuel R. Delany, Walter Mosley, and Butler; the second, essays by Jewelle Gomez [the transcription of a conference panel], Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu, and Carol Cooper.
(A more recent relavant anthology is
AfroSF: Science Fiction by African Writers [
isfdb], of original stories.)
-
Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora, (Warner Aspect, 2000)
[isfdb]
-
Dark Matter: Reading the Bones, (Warner Aspect, 2004)
[isfdb]
Combined Contents by Author and Title
Linda Addison
Twice, at Once, Separated
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Amiri Baraka
Rhythm Travel
(Fertile Ground: Memories & Visions, 1996)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Steven Barnes
The Woman in the Wall
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Derrick Bell
The Space Traders
(Faces at the Bottom of the Well, 1992)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Ihsan Bracy
Ibo Landing
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Kevin Brockenbrough
'Cause Harlem Needs Heroes
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
Octavia E. Butler
The Evening and the Morning and the Night
(Omni May 1987)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Charles W. Chesnutt
The Goophered Grapevine
(Atlantic Monthly Aug 1887)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Wanda Coleman
Buying Primo Time
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
John Cooley
The Binary
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Samuel R. Delany
Aye, and Gomorrah...
(Dangerous Visions, 1967)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Corona
(F&SF Oct 1967)
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
W. E. B. Du Bois
The Comet
(Darkwater: Voices from the Veil, 1920)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Jesus Christ in Texas
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
Tananarive Due
Aftermoon
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Like Daughter
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Henry Dumas
Ark of Bones
(Ark of Bones and Other Stories, 1974)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
David Findlay
Recovery from a Fall
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Robert Fleming
The Astral Visitor Delta Blues
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Jewelle Gomez
Chicago 1927
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Andrea Hairston
Excerpt from Mindscape
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Akua Lezli Hope
The Becoming
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Nalo Hopkinson
Ganger (Ball Lightning)
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
The Glass Bottle Trick
(Whispers from the Cotton Tree Root: Caribbean Fabulist Fiction, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
Greedy Choke Puppy
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
Sister Lilith
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Tyehimba Jess
Voodoo Vincent and the Astrostoriograms
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Charles Johnson
Sweet Dreams
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Anthony Joseph
The African Origins of UFOs (excerpt)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Douglas Kearney
Anansi Meets Peter Parker at the Taco Bell on Lexington
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Tony Medina
Butta's Backyard Barbecue
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Walter Mosley
Whispers in the Dark
(Futureland, 2001)
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
Pam Noles
Whipping Boy
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Nnedi Okorafor
The Magical Negro
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Ama Patterson
Hussy Strutt
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Ishmael Reed
Future Christmas (excerpt from The Terrible Twos)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Jill Robinson
BLACKout
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Leone Ross
Tasting Songs
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Kalamu ya Salaam
Buddy Bolden
(Fertile Ground: Memories & Visions, 1996)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Can You Wear My Eyes
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Trance
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Kiini Ibura Salaam
At Life's Limits
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Desire
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Charles R. Saunders
Gimmile's Songs
(Sword and Sorceress, 1984)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Yahimba's Choice
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
George S. Schuyler
Black No More (excerpt)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Nisi Shawl
At the Huts of Ajala
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Maggies
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
Cherene Sherrard
The Quality of Sand
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones [original]
Evie Shockley
separation anxiety
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Darryl A. Smith
The Pretended
(Dark Matter, 2000)
-- Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora
Ibi Aanu Zoboi
Old Flesh Song
-- Dark Matter: Reading the Bones
