Clifford Darwin DuRand

Clifford Darwin DuRand died peacefully at home in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico on March 17, 2023 after a short illness, with his beloved wife Julie and two dogs at his side. Cliff leaves a huge legacy and an international reputation for his fearless, tireless, and relentless efforts to create a more just and equitable world. He was a gentle and humble conversationalist; an insatiable learner; a whole-hearted and encouraging teacher; a critical thinker; and a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Cliff was born on December 1, 1937 and raised in Jamestown, North Dakota, earned his BA in Philosophy at University of North Dakota in 1960, his MA at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in 1963, and his PhD in Social Philosophy at Florida State University in 1974. He spent his 40-year professional career as professor of social philosophy at Baltimore’s Morgan State (1963 - 2004), an historically Black university.

Cliff was a dedicated activist for civil rights and social justice. He founded the JHU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society in 1962 and worked with the US - China People’s Friendship Association in the 1970s. In the 1980s he co-founded Baltimore’s Research Associates Foundation, which established the Progressive Action Center, a hub of Baltimore’s progressive community for over two decades. During that period he also co-founded the Radical Philosophy Association. Since 1990, Cliff organized and led annual academic trips to Cuba for the “Conference of US and Cuban Philosophers and Social Scientists” and in 2007 the University of Havana named him “Professor Invitado” in the Faculty of Philosophy and History.

In 2004 Cliff moved to San Miguel de Allende and co-founded the Center for Global Justice. He co-edited “Recreating Democracy in a Globalized State” (2012) and edited “Moving Beyond Capitalism” (2016), and also authored hundreds of essays and presentations. He was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist fellowship of San Miguel.

Cliff was preceded in death by his parents Clarence Edmund and Laura Minnie (née Wescom) DuRand. He is survived by his wife of nearly 30 years Julie, his brother Curtiss DuRand (Roseanne) of Long Island, his four daughters of two marriages: Kimberly Edwards (Daniel) of Boston and Michele DuRand (Paul Snelgrove) of Newfoundland, Canada; Nicole DuRand of Boston and Tia Oda (Hiro) and grandchildren Kina and Makai Oda of Orange, California; and niece Simone DuRand of Crescent City, California, and nephew Charles DuRand of Houston. He also leaves his stepchildren Gina Martin of Atlanta, Tony Carvajal (Antoinette) of Orlando, special nephew Andres Sarda of Connecticut, and their children and grandchildren.

A celebration of Cliff’s life will be held at the Aldea Hotel, San Miguel de Allende on Friday, April 28th at 2 pm CST. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Center for Global Justice (www.globaljusticecenter.org).