Lisa Durden

Lisa Durden is a media commentator and producer. Durden was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey and graduated from Seton Hall University with a degree in journalism.[2] She has provided commentary on The Kelly File and other television programs on subjects including racism,[3] Black Lives Matter,[4][5] and celebrity culture.[6]

Durden hosted a talk show, The Lisa Durden Show, that aired on Newark and Manhattan public access cable channels.[2][7] She was the associate producer for the documentary Brick City,[8] and producer of the documentary Soul Food Junkies, which won the 2012 Grand Jury Prize of Best Documentary at the American Black Film Festival.[9]

On June 6, 2017, Durden appeared on Fox News in an interview with Tucker Carlson, discussing a Black Lives Matter chapter that held a Memorial Day event exclusively for black people. Durden defended the chapter's actions, saying "Boo-hoo-hoo... You white people are angry because you couldn’t use your ‘white privilege’ card to get invited to the Black Lives Matter’s all-black Memorial Day celebration." Carlson responded by calling Durden "hostile and separatist and crazy" and "demented".[10] Two days later, Durden was suspended from her position of adjunct professor at Essex County College in Newark. Two weeks later, she was fired.[10][11] Durden described the experience as being "publicly lynched".[10][12] College president Anthony Munroe said the firing was in response to concerns and fears expressed by students, faculty, and prospective students following Durden's remarks on television.[13]

On July 25, 2017, Durden announced she would be running for New Jersey Lieutenant Governor on the Green Party ticket alongside Seth Kaper-Dale.[1][14][15] They lost, having received only 0.47% of the votes.