Rashid Darden is a novelist. He was born in the late 1970s in Washington, DC, where he has spent his entire life, save for brief stints in Moscow, Russia and Leicester, United Kingdom.

Rashid’s first novel, Lazarus, was published in 2005 to critical acclaim. The story of Adrian Collins, a gay college sophomore who pledges a predominately black fraternity, resonated deeply with the black fraternal community, earning Rashid fans that span the generations. The story of Adrian Collins was continued in 2011 with the publication of Covenant. In 2012, the trilogy was completed in Epiphany.

In 2006, Rashid was one of just two awardees in Literature at the Clik Magazine Honors. (The other awardee was E. Lynn Harris.) In 2007, an interview with Rashid was published in Carry the Word: A Bibliography of Black LGBTQ Books.

Aside from writing novels, Rashid is a gifted nonprofit professional and a “retired” educator. These experiences (along with his writings) have made him a sought-after guest speaker and workshop facilitator.

Rashid is a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and serves as the Executive Director of Gamma Xi Phi Professional Arts Fraternity. His passion for service has been recognized through numerous awards, including an Alumni Vision of Excellence Award from the Georgetown Black Student Alliance and a Guardian Angel Award from Words, Beats, & Life.

When he is not writing, Rashid enjoys photography, Tarot reading, and volunteering. Though he enjoys the quietude of home best of all, he can also be found enjoying probate shows, Thai food, live music, and any bookstore.