Doreen Lawrence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon
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Official portrait, 2023
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| Member of the House of Lords | |
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Lord Temporal
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| as a life peer 15 October 2013 |
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| Chancellor of De Montfort University | |
| In office 22 January 2016 – 31 January 2020 |
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| Vice-Chancellor | Dominic Shellard Andy Collop (interim) |
| Preceded by | Waheed Alli |
| Succeeded by | Akram Khan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Doreen Delceita Graham
24 October 1952 Clarendon, Colony of Jamaica |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse |
Neville Lawrence
(m. 1972; div. 1999) |
| Children | 3, including Stephen Lawrence |
| Alma mater | University of Greenwich |
| Occupation | Campaigner |
Doreen Delceita Lawrence, also known as Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, is a very important British campaigner. She is the mother of Stephen Lawrence, a Black British teenager who was sadly murdered in a racist attack in London in 1993. After this tragedy, Doreen worked hard to bring about big changes to the police service. She also started the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to help young people. For her amazing work, she was given an award called the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003. In 2013, she became a life peer, which means she can sit in the House of Lords and help make laws.
Contents
About Doreen Lawrence
Her Early Life
Doreen Lawrence was born in Clarendon, Jamaica, in 1952. When she was nine years old, she moved to England. She finished her schooling in London and then worked at a bank. In 1972, she married Neville Lawrence. They had three children: Stephen, Stuart, and Georgina. They later divorced in 1999.
Campaign for Justice
After her son Stephen was murdered in 1993, Doreen and Neville Lawrence felt that the police investigation was not fair or professional. They believed it was due to mistakes and racism. They started a private legal case against some suspects. However, there wasn't enough evidence at the time, so the suspects were not found guilty.
Doreen and Neville kept campaigning for many years. They had a lot of support from their community, the media, and politicians. In 1999, a big public inquiry was set up to look into Stephen's death. This inquiry found that the police force was "institutionally racist." This means that the system and practices within the police had unfair biases. The inquiry also suggested changes to a law called "double jeopardy," which meant someone couldn't be tried twice for the same crime. This law was changed in 2003. Later, in 2010, new evidence led to two of the murderers being arrested again. They were found guilty in 2011-2012.
Her Public Work
After the inquiry, Doreen Lawrence continued to fight for justice. She also campaigned for other victims of racist crimes. She worked to make sure the police service continued to improve. In 2003, she was awarded the OBE for her work in community relations.
She created the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. This trust helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. It supports them in careers like architecture and helps them achieve their dreams. Doreen has also served on important panels for the government and the police. She is a member of Liberty, a human rights organization. She also supports Stop Hate UK, a charity that helps people affected by hate crime.
In 1998, she helped create the Stephen Lawrence Prize. This award helps young architects. In 2020, she became an advisor on race relations for the Labour Party.
Awards and Honours
Doreen Lawrence has received many awards and honours for her important work:
- In 2012, she helped carry the Olympic flag at the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.
- She received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th Pride of Britain Awards in 2012.
- In 2014, she was named Britain's most influential woman by BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.
- She received the Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Award in 2014 for her work with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
On September 6, 2013, she became a life peer. This means she was given the title Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon. She sits in the House of Lords as a working peer, helping to make laws. Her title is special because it's named after a place in Jamaica, outside the UK.
She has also received special degrees, called honorary doctorates, from several universities. These include the University of Cambridge and the Open University. She was also the Chancellor of De Montfort University from 2016 to 2020.
In 2012, she was a guest on the famous BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs.
A famous painting by Chris Ofili called No Woman No Cry is a portrait of Doreen Lawrence crying. In each tear, you can see a tiny image of her son Stephen. This painting is now in the Tate Gallery.
See also
