Angela Davis: Scholar, Author, and Activist

The idea of freedom is inspiring. But what does it mean? If you are free in a political sense but have no food, what's that? The freedom to starve?

Angela Davis is one of the most powerful and important people in the Civil Rights/Black Liberation struggle. The icon was apart of both the Black Panther and Communist Party, which quickly put her on the FBI’s most wanted list. Through her powerful activist and enduring spirit, Davis was able to transform her pain into her passion. Today, she is an extremely influential graduate professor at UCLA, continuing her duty in liberating young minds through education.

Born January 26th, 1944, in Birmingham, Alabama, Davis picked up activism from a very young age. Her passion for activism stems from her childhood. Davis lived in a middle-class neighborhood referred to as “Dynamite Hill”, due to the extensive number of bombings on African Americans by the KKK. During her teenage years, Davis would set up interracial study groups that were broken up by law enforcement. She also knew four of the girls killed in the Birmingham Church bombing. When asked about her involvement in radical activism, Davis stated, “Some very good friends of mine were killed by bombs...from the time I was very small, I remember the sounds of bombs exploding across the street, our house shaking…. That’s why when someone asks me about violence, I just find it incredible, because what it means is that...they have absolutely no idea what black people have gone through”.

Davis moved north and attended Brandeis University in Massachusetts where she studied philosophy. For graduate school, she attended the UCLA, in San Diego. During her time in California, she became associated with the Black Panther party but she spent most of her time with Che-Lumumba Club, an all-black branch of the Communist Party. At the same time, Davis was teaching at UCLA. The administration found out about her involvement with the party and attempted to terminate her, but Davis fought back and was able to keep the position.

Davis’ involvement with these parties put her on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list. Coincidentally, she was charged with three capital charges (murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy) in August of 1970, also facing the death penalty if convicted. Singer and American superstar, Aretha Franklin fought for Davis’ rights. In an interview with Jet Magazine, Franklin stated, “...Jail is hell to be in. I’m going to set her free...not because I believe in communism, but because she’s a black woman and she wants freedom for black people”. Franklin’s involvement is considered to be very important factor in the results of Davis’ trial. Although acquitted in 1972, Davis spent about 18 months in prison. Since, she has been a leading advocate for the reform of America’s prison system. In Ava DuVernay’s film, 13th, Davis addresses her situation, “...Ronald Reagan was the governor of California, Richard Nixon was President of the United States, the whole apparatus of the state was set up against me. They really meant to send me to the death chamber in order to make a point”.

After her trial, Davis spent her time traveling and lecturing. She returned to teaching in 1991 at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she lectured topics on history, consciousness and gender. It is said that after her first lecture, she had to be moved across campus for accommodate the 2,000+ students looking to hear her lecture. Davis officially retired in 2008, but came back to lecture a Graduate Seminar at UCLA in 2014. The seminar was titled, “Critical Theory and Feminist Dialogue” and included only 25 students. A very lucky 25!

Davis is also a distinguished author. Her books include, Angela Davis: An Autobiography (1974), Women, Race, and Class (1980), Women, Culture and Politics (1989), Are Prisons Obsolete? (2003), Abolition Democracy (2005), and The Meaning of Freedom (2012). These literary works are extremely important to any student looking into a career in politics, gender studies, criminal justice, or anything related to those fields.

Thank you, Angela Davis, for being such a strong example of leadership and activism. Her life was in no way easy, but is a perfect example of how you find your true purpose in the lowest points of your life. Take notes from the author, activist, and scholar, and fight back when you’re under attack. Continue to fight on Ms. Davis, the world still needs you!