Pop culture commentator and Producer Lisa Durden certainly has a lot to say. She has been blessed with the “gift of gab”, and has positioned that into an array of appearances on radio and television. She has also created a number of internships for students in New York media. Her talents and relationship with students afforded her the opportunity to serve as an adjunct professor at Essex County College in her hometown of Newark, NJ.
That was until earlier this month, when she was escorted from her summer class to a meeting with the school’s administrators.
“They wanted to send a message. ‘See what happened to Lisa Durden? You know it could happen to me.’ Free speech doesn’t matter if you’re a professor, make people mad and you’re in trouble”
At the beginning of June, Lisa appeared on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” as a commentator. She had appeared on the network several times before, despite receiving racist death threats. During the show, Lisa and Tucker debated the Black Lives Matter Memorial Day celebration that was only open to African Americans. Check out the heated exchange below:
Lisa’s controversial comment “Boo-hoo, you white people are angry because you couldn’t use your ‘white privilege’ card to get invited to the Black Lives Matter all-black Memorial Day celebration,” spread quickly. The backlash for Lisa seemed to be even quicker.
Two days after the episode aired, Lisa was notified by the school’s administrators that she had been investigated and suspended. They stated that they received a complaint about her recent Fox News appearance. When she inquired further about her dismissal, administrators stated she had improperly identified herself as an Essex professor (as she is an adjunct professor).
Outrage has poured in from students and faculty alike. Several of her colleagues have drafted a letter of support. Fellow Professor Jennifer Wager had this to say:
“I find it shocking that an African-American woman would be so disrespected at her place of employment for merely exercising her First Amendment right to free speech”
Students have created a petition on change.org calling for her reinstatement. It has gained 1000 signatures within the past week. The college’s Vice President Jeffrey Lee advised that “general counsel has handled this matter in a way that complies with New Jersey state law”, with no further information.
The debate over Freedom of Speech is definitely a hot issue right now. Legally, however, Lisa’s First Amendment rights have not been violated, as she has not been thrown in jail. Freedom of Speech does not mean freedom of consequence. Unfortunately, the consequences seem to happen more readily for women who look like Durden, not folks who look like Bill Maher or Donald Trump.
Share your thoughts below!
did not deserve to be fired .then let’s fire D.Trash
Me thinks white donors threatened to pull funding because they were offended. But the school can never go on the record and say this. If this woman gets death threats from previous appearances on Fox News then this is not the first trigger remark she has made. Instances like is why I feel that people like Bill Maher should be fired or at the very least suspended because people with less notoriety, people of color, or women of color specifically are dealt with more harshly.
Let’s fight for this black queen people stand for something black people don’t be scared the white people have scared us to long lets fight I’m willing to stand on the front lines for her how many willing
All I can say is WOW. It’s not what you say but how you say it. I wish you the best Lisa.
White people do to us
I agree with her opinion, but not her tone of voice. She had a right to say what she believed in, but even if I am a Black women who agrees with her rhetoric, I did not like the way she said her statements. She made herself look unnecessarily hostile and made us look bad as a result. I honestly don’t care for how White people feel about the #BLM Memorial party, because for years now, a channel known as BET has been owned by a White man and has nominated and awarded White people on a channel meant to honor Black people. Also, BET is full of stereotypical foolishness. A Black-only event for once is pretty cool. After all, the KKK never invites Blacks to their stupid ceremonies unless they are boomerang bigots or meant to be lynched at their ceremonies. Blacks should exercise their free speech and freedom. Besides, not every race always stands up for them. They stereotype us along with White people and believe the lies that generalize all of us anyway. So, a break from the rest of society as a whole might be needed.
But here’s the thing, that doesn’t excuse her tone. She perpetuated that “hostility” stereotype that they apply to all Black activists, and that’s what I don’t like. She should have only gotten loud when the reporter was insisting on bullshit. She made him look like the hero in this story when he’s likely the opposite. I don’t think she should get fired, but she should at least have a talking to about her behavior. Even if she believes in what she believes in, she holds a job that is associated with a college. She can’t be jeopardizing their reputation like that by being rude. Plenty of White people who are fake about wanting “unity for eryone” totally deserve a bitch-slap. But outright yelling from the get-go doesn’t convince people that you have a right to believe in what you believe in.