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Spreading the Word
by Rob Elder
This charitable organization is the vision of Kelvin Shawn Sealey, a young black poet. "He wanted to set up an entrepreneurial entity that would give genius awards to young people in the inner city," said Obsidian Society board member Cornel West. "It's modeled in part on the McArthur foundation and the Paul Newman idea of being able to make profits and actually rechannel it into investment." Like the Newman's Own brandname, projects under the Obsidian Society banner will generate funds which will go directly to black charities or the arts. In early 1993, Sealey met Dr. West at Princeton University while writing a magazine article. They later formed a friendship and forged a unique partnership to found a charitable organization--now a reality as The Obsidian Society. Restoring Hope is the first project of several conceived by the pair. The overall mission of the society is to "subsidize the work of young African Americans who have shown success in their chosen field, but whose work could be measurably increased with the aid of a financial grant." The Obsidian Society has recently spawned several sister companies, including ObsidianFilm and ObsidanDisc. ObsidianFilm will develop and produce films, television programming and special cable projects. ObsidianDisc's main focus will be to sign artists and distribute records that reflect the "long tradition of soulful black music" and "classical Afro-American beats." Other Obsidian companies, which will focus on art, advertising, and projects on the Internet, have been established. For more information, contact: Kelvin Shawn Sealey
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ornel West, in conjunction with the Obsidian Society, is taking the first steps in creating "a just, multi-racial society" in America. West's 1998 book, Restoring Hope, was the first of several projects which will benefit the Obsidian Society.![[Contents]](images/contents.gif){kind=small}