B. Kwaku Duren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
B. Kwaku Duren
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| Born | April 14, 1943 Beckley, West Virginia, U.S.
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| Education | People's College of Law (JD) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Political party | Black Panther Party Peace and Freedom Party New Panther Vanguard Movement |
| Spouse(s) | Married four times |
| Children | Seth, Andrea, Kwamé, Sarika |
B. Kwaku Duren (born April 14, 1943) is an important African American lawyer, educator, and activist. He is also known as Robert Donaldson Duren or Bob D. Duren. He has worked for many years to help communities, especially in South Los Angeles.
As a young man, he spent time in California prisons. While there, he read many books and took college classes. After his release in 1970, he started the National Poor People's Congress. A few years later, he helped create an alternative school called the Intercommunal Youth Institute.
After a sad event involving his sister, Duren helped start the Coalition Against Police Abuse (CAPA). This group worked to stop police misconduct. From 1976 to 1981, he led the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party. He later became a lawyer, helping people through the Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation. He also ran for the United States Congress three times and once for Vice President.
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Early Life and Education
B. Kwaku Duren was born in Beckley, West Virginia. He is the only son in a family of four children. His father worked in mines and steel mills. His mother was a homemaker and also worked cleaning houses.
During World War II, his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Later, they moved to Long Beach, California. His father faced legal troubles and spent time in prison. He later won his release and rejoined his family.
As a teenager, Kwaku Duren also faced legal challenges. He spent time in prison. While there, Duren became a very keen reader. He studied African American history and read books by important thinkers. These included W.E.B. Du Bois and Malcolm X. He also read works by Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. He learned a lot about the history of slavery.
Besides reading, Duren took college classes. He studied economics, sociology, and psychology. He was released from prison in September 1970. He was 27 years old at the time.
The Intercommunal Youth Institute
In the summer of 1973, Duren and his younger sister, Betty Scott, started the Intercommunal Youth Institute (IYI). This was a non-profit alternative school in Long Beach. It was based on the successful community school of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California.
Duren was the director of the Institute and taught world history. His sister, Betty Scott, managed the business side. The school was approved by the state board of education.
In 1975, Duren was chosen to lead a group of young people to Cuba. They went to an international youth summer camp. There, they met with other students to talk about youth issues. They also learned about the Cuban Revolution. When Duren returned to the U.S., he was questioned by the FBI. He was released after explaining his visit.
Working for Justice
On September 20, 1975, Kwaku Duren's sister, Betty Scott, died tragically. She was pulled over by California Highway Patrol officers. During the stop, an officer shot her. This event deeply affected Duren and his family.
Duren and his family worked to investigate the incident. They formed the Scott-Smith Committee for Justice. They also filed a lawsuit against the California Highway Patrol. The lawsuit was not successful.
In February 1976, Duren helped create the Coalition Against Police Abuse (CAPA). He became a co-chair of this group. CAPA worked to prevent and expose police misconduct. It also sought legal help for those who experienced abuse. This group brought together black and Mexican communities in Los Angeles.
Joining the Black Panther Party
In the summer of 1976, Duren began studying law. At the same time, he and other activists formed a political study group. They met with Elaine Brown, who led the Black Panther Party. They discussed restarting the Party in Los Angeles.
In October 1976, Duren officially joined the Black Panther Party. In January 1977, he opened the new office for the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party (SCC/BPP). He believed the Party could help raise awareness among young people. He wanted to continue the fight for "people's power."
Huey Newton, who co-founded the Party, returned from Cuba that same year. Duren continued to work with the Party. He helped reorganize the Southern California Chapter. He worked to grow its membership and carry out its community programs.
Becoming a People's Lawyer
Duren started law classes at the Peoples College of Law (PCL) in August 1976. He left for a short time to focus on police abuse issues. This led to the creation of CAPA and the reopening of the SCC/BPP.
In late 1979, he began working for the Watts Legal Aid Office. He started as a Community Outreach Worker. Later, he became a legal assistant. He also took paralegal classes at the University of Southern California.
Duren returned to law school at PCL in 1985. He graduated in June 1989. He passed the bar exam in November 1989. There was a delay in his admission to the California State Bar. However, he was admitted in 1990. He was sworn in by Judge Richard Paez.
Duren left Legal Aid in 1991. This was due to rules about lawyers running for political office. He had run for Congress in 1982 and 1986. In 1993, he was allowed to practice law in Federal Court. He also served on panels for arbitration and mediation.
New Panther Vanguard Movement
In 1994, Duren helped start the New African American Vanguard Movement. This group later became the New Panther Vanguard Movement. It aimed to be like the original Black Panther Party. It was a response to racial tensions in America during the early 1990s.
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B. Kwaku Duren
