Vincent Harding (1931–2014) was an American historian, social activist and emeritus professor who worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. as a friend and confidant. Harding was born in Harlem, New York on July 25, 1931. After graduating from City College of New York with a BA in History, he received an MS in Journalism from Columbia University, and later earned his PhD in History from the University of Chicago. Dr. Harding also chaired the Veterans of Hope Project and was professor emeritus of religion and social transformation at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, USA. His books include Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement.