The family of Dr. Rachel Elizabeth Harding is deeply saddened to announce her passing on Monday, May 25, 2026, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. She was the cherished daughter of the late civil rights icons, authors, and longtime Denver, Colorado, residents Dr. Vincent Harding and Rosemarie Freeney-Harding. Dr. Rachel Harding was a devoted sister, cousin, mentor and beloved friend who leaves behind a profound legacy of transformative scholarship, modeled by her deep love and faith in humanity.
Born in Georgia, Rachel dedicated her life to exploring the intersections of spirituality, creativity, and social justice. She most recently served as an Associate Professor of Indigenous Spiritual Traditions in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Denver, where her teaching and research deeply touched the lives of countless students and colleagues worldwide. She was also Co-Director of the Veterans of Hope Project in Denver, Colorado.
Rachel held an MFA in Creative Writing from Brown University and a PhD in History from the University of Colorado Boulder. As a writer and historian, she specialized in the religions of the Afro-Atlantic diaspora. Her landmark book, A Refuge in Thunder: Candomblé and Alternative Spaces of Blackness, remains a vital contribution to Black historical studies of the Afro-Atlantic world. In addition to her academic achievements, Rachel co-authored Remnants: A Memoir of Spirit, Activism and Mothering alongside her mother, Rosemarie Freeney-Harding. This celebrated book combines Rachel’s own writings with her mother’s autobiographical reflections, capturing their family history and emphasizing the crucial roles of compassion and mysticism in African American social justice movements. Rachel carried this lineage of spirit and compassion into every aspect of her personal and professional life.
Beyond the academy, Rachel was a gifted poet whose verse wove together memory, spirit, and resistance. Her voice as an activist carried the moral urgency of her parents’ generation into new spaces, bridging artistic expression with a lifelong commitment to racial justice and human dignity. Whether on the page or in community, she showed that scholarship, creativity, and advocacy were never separate callings, but one integrated practice of the beloved community, love made visible.
The family expresses their deepest gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of prayers and support during this difficult time. Details regarding a celebration of life will be shared at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Cave Canem Poets, Indigo Arts Alliance, The Black Star Project, and/or The Veterans of Hope Project—an initiative founded by her parents, Vincent and Rosemarie Harding, to preserve the intersection of religion, culture, and democratic social movements.
