Duke Givens is one of five honorees in the LBCC 2020 Hall of Fame, the nominees are recognized for their hard work and dedication. Duke Givens is a photographer, and social activist. He is a Long Beach native who attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School in the 80’s.
The LBCC Alumni association annually recognizes nominees for their talents, success and services within the local community.
“The Hall of fame is a way for us to remember those who have achieved their goals and also to be able to hear each of their stories. It’s an honor to be a part of this program. I love my job here at LBCC,” said Paula Barrow, Director of Alumni Relations and Development.
Barrow explained the good deeds of the 2020 Hall of Famer Duke Givens as an example of an outstanding candidate. Currently, he is giving back to the Long Beach community by contributing and helping the homeless.
Although Duke never joined a gang himself, he witnessed a lot of gang involvement around him in the Long Beach community. He watched and witnessed many young boys growing up with a lack of father figures.
“Growing up in the East-Side of Long Beach during the 80’s, there was a lot of gang violence in the neighborhood and community,” said Givens.
Givens grew up with a lot of talented and well known rap artists. Some of those artists are Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and his cousin Nate Dogg who are all Long Beach natives.
Givens was one hundred percent confident in knowing that he wanted to escape the environment of violence facing a different war in Iraq instead of a war within the community.
After graduating from Poly High School, Givens joined the United States Air Force in 1989. He had served for four years until he was released and discharged.
Givens said, “The Air Force motivated me to be a respectful young man and it molded me to have a lot of respect toward others.”
After his discharge, Givens enrolled in college at Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus and started his college education.
“My parents brought me a Canon AE-1 camera which was my first camera ever, and I was wondering why they gave it to me because I had no idea it would become my greatest passion,” said Givens.
He enrolled into a Black and White Photography class with professors Mickey Wilson and Niel Frances.
“LBCC was a big help because I was able to use my creativity with a camera,” said Givens.
Duke fell in love with photography and his skills of using a camera. After his time spent at LBCC he created his first project, a calendar piece called Stop Gang Violence. The purpose of Stop Gang Violence is an obituary for the neighborhood in Long Beach during the time period of the 1990’s featuring Snoop, Warren G and Nate Dogg . It was meant to take action to reduce gang violence.
In 1994, Duke shot one of Snoop Dogg’s album covers called Murder Was the Case.
“I love capturing photos of my friends. People look at Snoop in various ways but I captured photos of him during the beginning of my photography career,” said Givens.
He has a voice through his photos and wants to show people how they lived back then.
During the starting of his career, Givens shot many photographs of his friend Snoop Dogg. There is a project called, The Early Years of Snoop Dogg by Givens, which was an exhibit that opened at MADE in Long Beach located at 240 Pine Ave, on Feb 20, 2016. His photo exhibit ran from February through the end of March.
A recent exhibit of Givens is the Power of Choice which deals with the comparisons of life, those who chose a wrong path in life and those positive people who chose civic governance to help the local community.
He describes this exhibit as a positive reflection to some, while also being stereotypically negative to a small portion of people. “They don’t want it to be told and portrayed in a negative aspect but it’s real life,” he said. He describes the photos in the exhibit as a living gallery.
“Power of Choice is the choice each individual makes in their life,” said Givens.
Given’s Power of Choice exhibit can be found on display at the Liberal Arts Campus of Long Beach City College, in the administration building, T-1000.
Givens said, “LBCC is more than a college, it is a city and has a diverse culture with incredibly amazing professors and faculty who continue to encourage and motivate the many generations to become leaders of the future and a bright tomorrow.”
Givens emphasized and explained that he wants young people, and teenagers to get inspired and motivated to take control of our own life, no matter our background or circumstances. We all have the power in order to choose who we want to become.