There is probably no such person who at least once has not heard of a woman with a big name Angela Davis. Activist, teacher, scientist and writer - she made a huge contribution to the struggle for the rights of the oppressed. Davis has authored books on the culture, politics, and fate of women. An ardent feminist has shown herself as a supporter of gender equality. She also advocated reforming the prison system.
Angela Davis: An Autobiography
Girl Davis appeared in the family of a school teacher and gas station in the city of Birmingham (Alabama) on January 26, 1944. From an early age, Angela was imbued with the ideas of socialism to the depths of her soul. During these times, the Ku Klux Klan group felt quite free in the south of the USA.
Davis was an excellent student in her school years. She dreamed of becoming a teacher. At the age of 15, Davis Angela goes to New York, where she attends high school. For the first time, she became interested in politics in high school.
Brandeis University
The girl joined a Marxist circle in which she became friends with the daughter of the famous historian Apteker Herbert. After school, Angela, along with her dark-skinned girlfriend, enters Brandeis University. She gets an excellent opportunity to study philosophy with the famous American cultural scientist Herbert Marcuse.
She was always attracted to the concept of equality of people. Angela Davis, whose photo you can see here, studied at good educational institutions available to black children. In those days, not everyone was given the opportunity to study at the university. She trained at the Sorbonne. There, the girl honed her knowledge of French literature. University professors in Paris later said that Davis was modest and serious.
VIII World Festival for Youth and Students
In 1962, the 8th World Festival for Youth and Students opened its doors for Angela Davis. It was held in Helsinki. In the fate of the girl, this event played an important role. Davis's goal is to learn more about revolutionary youth from around the world. At the festival, Angela meets with students from Cuba. She becomes a supporter of the legendary Fidel Castro.
Frankfurt University, Germany
Then the girl continues her studies at the University of Frankfurt. In 1965, she graduated from an educational institution. In 1966, Davis Angela arrives in Paris. There she is going to learn French. However, he proceeds to study philosophy instead. Particular attention is paid to the work of Davis Albert Camus, Karl Marx, Jean-Paul Sartre.
Return to the States
While the American girl was in Europe, radical movements began to appear in large numbers in the USA. Angela decides to return to her homeland to become part of them.
In 1967, Davis Angela Yvonne arrives in San Diego. There she continues an in-depth study of philosophy. At this time, Angela actively helps citizens in prisons. She is known as a strong public figure and organizer of many actions and rallies.
In 1970, Davis was put on the FBI wanted list. In anticipation of the trial, the girl was forced to spend a year and a half in a New York detention center for women. In 1972, celebrities such as John Lennon and the British rock band Rolling Stones made support for Angela. "Black Panther" was admired by many celebrities at all times. Russian singer Garik Sukachev released a song titled Freedom to Angela Davis.
Becoming an Angela Davis Look
US history does not know more famous radical activists and African-American educators than Davis. She was a fierce civil rights activist. Even in her childhood, Angela found out what the "unequal races" are. In adolescence, she and her comrades-in-arms organized group studies on the study of interracial relations. An important role in the formation of the girl’s views was played by the bombing of the church located in Birmingham. This event in 1963 claimed the lives of innocent girls she knew. Angela Davis is keenly reacting to unfair politics and the brutality of society.
A 19-year-old dark-skinned girl with a thrill in her heart listened to the powerful anti-racist speech of the famous African-American Martin King. The leader of the black rights movement in the United States played an important role in creating a civil rights-based mood. These events could not but leave a mark on the worldview of Angela Davis.
Social injustice in all its manifestations caused mental suffering for the girl. Members of the Ku Klux Klan, who ruthlessly wielded in Alabama, left wounds in her heart forever.
Davis's favorite book for many years remained the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, “The Communist Party Manifesto.” The dark-skinned human rights activist called herself a communist and waged a fierce struggle for justice.
Davis's personal life
A vivid romance happened at Davis after leaving the University of California and joining the Communist Party. Angela Davis, whose biography is discussed in this article, defended the rights of prisoners and was a frequent visitor to prisons. In one of them, she met with 28-year-old George Jackson. Many crimes “hung” on the young handsome. But he managed to charm the girl. Angela decided to represent the guy, becoming his public lawyer.
Most of the time, the human rights activist, together with her brother George and his comrades, planned to release the beloved. However, the escape was never realized. Jonathan, the younger brother of the prisoner, took the judge hostage during the trial. The story ended sadly: the police shot and killed both Jackson Jr. and the judge. George himself was killed in the prison after some time. The weapon with which the judge was shot was acquired in the name of Davis …
Arrest davis
Angela was arrested for involvement in an attempt to organize the escape of Jackson. The woman spent in prison about a year and a half. At first, she was kept in solitary confinement, but thanks to her perseverance, the girl was transferred to a regular detention center. Angela called on her cellmates to fight for better conditions of imprisonment, which made the local guards very angry.
During this time, Davis's health deteriorated greatly. She began to experience vision problems. However, it was this story that brought the international human rights activist fame. Numerous "left" forces in various corners of the planet stood in her defense. The court later issued a verdict of not guilty, and Angela was released.
Angela Davis in the USSR
During the Cold War, Angela Davis met with the Secretary General of the CPSU Central Committee, Leonid Brezhnev. The image of a black girl was carefully promoted by Soviet propaganda. She was presented to the Russian socialists as a victim of capitalism. The woman participated in many meetings of local authorities. Very quickly in the USSR, she became "her own man." Angela's liberal slogans underwent tight control and were conveyed somewhat differently by translators.
Later, working people of the Soviet Union were required to donate 10 cents to the Assistance Fund to Comrade Angela Davis. Pupils massively wrote letters to her, the template of which was approved by the Central Committee of the CPSU.
Political activity
In 1980 and 1984, Davis Angela fought for the seat of the American vice president from the US Communist Party. She also continues to work as a scientist. Angela publishes books and textbooks. In educational institutions around the world, a black human rights activist lectures. In the early 1990s, a woman leaves the Communist Party, refusing to support an attempted coup in Russia.
Davis delves into scientific activity. However, she continues to protect the rights of women prisoners. In 1997, Angela made a stunning confession. According to her, she is not only a feminist, but also a lesbian. All her relationship with the male sex, Angela Davis, whose personal life has been hidden from the public for many years, has been called the "mistakes of youth."
Prizes and awards
Angela Davis was awarded the prizes of the USSR, Cuba and Germany as a woman who contributed to the protection of human freedom and dignity. So, in 1972, a dark-skinned human rights activist received the National Order of Playa Chiron and the medal "To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of V. I. Lenin." In 1979, Davis was awarded the International Lenin Prize "For the consolidation of peace between peoples." In 2004, Angela won the prize of the German Society for the Protection of Civil Rights and Human Dignity.
Angela Davis Quotes
In her youth, Davis said: “My world is changing. I want to be part of these changes. ” This is one of the most striking and popular quotes of the human rights activist. Her name has forever become a symbol of the concept of "freedom." Angela spoke a lot about human freedom. She said that "police repression and terror are directed against those who refuse the mindless role of the victim."
