“ Prisons do not disappear problems, they disappear human beings. “
Quotes by Angela Y. Davis
Introducing Angela Y. Davis
Angela Yvonne Davis, born on January 26, 1944, in Birmingham, Alabama, is a distinguished American political activist, scholar, and author. Raised in a neighborhood known as "Dynamite Hill" due to frequent racial bombings, Davis was deeply influenced by the pervasive racial injustices of her youth. Her mother, Sallye Bell Davis, was an active member of the Southern Negro Youth Congress, exposing Angela to activism early on.
Davis pursued higher education at Brandeis University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in French in 1965. She furthered her studies in philosophy at the University of Frankfurt and later obtained a Master's degree from the University of California, San Diego. Her academic journey culminated with a Doctorate in Philosophy from Humboldt University in Berlin.
In 1969, Davis joined the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as an assistant professor of philosophy. Her affiliation with the Communist Party USA led to her controversial dismissal, a decision later deemed illegal by the courts. The subsequent reappointment was short-lived, as UCLA terminated her again for using what they considered inflammatory language.
Davis gained international attention in 1970 when she was implicated in an armed takeover of a courtroom in Marin County, California, involving the use of firearms registered in her name. The incident resulted in multiple fatalities, and Davis faced charges including conspiracy to murder. After spending over a year in jail, she was acquitted of all charges in 1972.
Throughout her career, Davis has been a vocal advocate for civil rights, feminism, and prison abolition. She co-founded Critical Resistance, an organization dedicated to dismantling the prison-industrial complex. Her scholarly work includes notable publications such as "Women, Race, and Class" (1981) and "Are Prisons Obsolete?" (2003), which explore the intersections of race, gender, and incarceration.
Davis pursued higher education at Brandeis University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in French in 1965. She furthered her studies in philosophy at the University of Frankfurt and later obtained a Master's degree from the University of California, San Diego. Her academic journey culminated with a Doctorate in Philosophy from Humboldt University in Berlin.
In 1969, Davis joined the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as an assistant professor of philosophy. Her affiliation with the Communist Party USA led to her controversial dismissal, a decision later deemed illegal by the courts. The subsequent reappointment was short-lived, as UCLA terminated her again for using what they considered inflammatory language.
Davis gained international attention in 1970 when she was implicated in an armed takeover of a courtroom in Marin County, California, involving the use of firearms registered in her name. The incident resulted in multiple fatalities, and Davis faced charges including conspiracy to murder. After spending over a year in jail, she was acquitted of all charges in 1972.
Throughout her career, Davis has been a vocal advocate for civil rights, feminism, and prison abolition. She co-founded Critical Resistance, an organization dedicated to dismantling the prison-industrial complex. Her scholarly work includes notable publications such as "Women, Race, and Class" (1981) and "Are Prisons Obsolete?" (2003), which explore the intersections of race, gender, and incarceration.