Davis Angela: biography, personal life, photos, quotes

Probably, there is no such person who at least once did not hear about the woman with the loud name of Angela Davis. An activist, teacher, scientist and writer - she made a huge contribution to the struggle for the rights of the oppressed. Davis became the author of books on the culture, politics and destiny of women. An old feminist has shown herself as a supporter of gender equality. She also advocated reform of the prison system.

Angela Davis: autobiography

The girl Davis appeared in the family of a school teacher and a gas station in Birmingham , Alabama, on January 26, 1944. From an early age, Angela was deeply absorbed in the ideas of socialism. In these times in the south of the US, the Ku Klux Klan group felt quite free.

Davis was an excellent pupil 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.

University of Brandeis

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, goes to Brandeis University. She gets an excellent opportunity to study philosophy with the famous American culturologist Herbert Marcuse.

She was always attracted to the concept of equality of people. Angela Davis, whose photo you can see here, was trained in 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. Professors of the University of Paris later told that Davis was very modest and serious.

VIII World Festival for Youth and Students

In 1962, for the Angela Davis, the VIII World Festival for Youth and Students opened its doors. Held in Helsinki. In the fate of the girl this event played an important role. The purpose of Davis is to learn more about the representatives of revolutionary youth from all over the world. At the festival, Angela meets students from Cuba. She becomes a supporter of the legendary Fidel Castro.

University of Frankfurt, Germany

Then the girl continues her studies at the Frankfurt University. In 1965 she graduated from an educational institution. In 1966, Davis Angela came to Paris. There she is going to learn French. Instead, he begins to study philosophy. Davis pays special attention to the works of Albert Camus, Karl Marx, Jean-Paul Sartre.

Return to the States

While the American girl was in Europe, radically adjusted movements began to appear in the USA massively. Angela decides to return to her homeland to become a part of them.

In 1967, Davis Angela Yvonne arrives in San Diego. There she continues in-depth study of philosophy. At this time, Angela actively helps citizens who are in prison. She is known as a strong public figure and organizer of many actions and rallies.

In 1970, Davis was wanted by FBI. In anticipation of the trial, the girl was forced to spend a year and a half at the New York Women's Detention Center. In 1972, in support of Angela made such celebrities as John Lennon and the British rock band Rolling Stones. "Black Panther" was admired by many celebrities at all times. Russian singer Garik Sukachev released a song entitled "Freedom for Angela Davis".

Becoming the views of Angela Davis

The history of the US does not know the more famous radical activists and African-American educators than Davis. She was a fierce fighter for civil rights. Even in her childhood, Angela learned what "the disparity of races" is. In adolescence, she, along with associates, organized group studies on the study of race relations. A big role in the formation of the girl's views was played by the bombing of the church in Birmingham. This event in 1963 claimed the lives of the innocent girls she knew. Angela Davis sharply reacts to the unjust policy and cruelty of society.

A 19-year-old dark-skinned girl with trembling in the heart listened to the powerful anti-racist speech of the famous African-American Martin King. The leader of the movement for the rights of blacks in the United States played an important role in the formation of a civil rights watch. These events could not but leave a trace on the worldview of Angela Davis.

Social injustice in all its manifestations caused mental distress to the girl. In her heart, the members of the Ku Klux Klan, ruthlessly operating in Alabama, left their wounds forever.

Davis' favorite book for many years remained the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels "Manifesto of the Communist Party." The dark-skinned human rights activist called herself a Communist and led a strong fight for justice.

Personal life Davis

A bright romance happened with Davis after being fired from the University of California and joining the Communist Party. Angela Davis, whose biography is covered in this article, defended the rights of prisoners and was a frequent guest of prisons. In one of them she met 28-year-old George Jackson. On the handsome young man, many crimes were "hanging". But he managed to charm the girl. Angela decided to represent the interests of the guy, becoming his public lawyer.

Most of the time, the human rights activist together with her brother George and his friends planned the release of a loved one. However, the escape was never realized. Jonathan, the younger brother of a prisoner, took the judge hostage during the trial. The story ended sadly: the policemen shot both Jackson Jr. and the judge. George himself was later killed in the walls of the prison. The weapon, which was shot by the judge, was acquired in the name of Davis ...

Arrest of Davis

Angela was arrested for involvement in the attempt to organize the escape of Jackson. The woman spent about a year and a half in prison. At first she was kept in solitary confinement, but thanks to her perseverance the girl was transferred to a regular detention center. Her cellmates Angela called for fighting to improve the conditions of imprisonment, which is very angry local guards.

During this time, Davis greatly deteriorated health. She began to experience visual problems. However, it was this story that brought the human rights activist world fame. In her defense there were numerous "left" forces in various parts of the world. Later, the court issued a verdict of acquittal, and Angela was released.

Angela Davis in the USSR

During the Cold War, Angela Davis met with General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Leonid Brezhnev. The image of a black girl was diligently unwound by Soviet propaganda. Russian socialists saw it as a sacrifice of capitalism. The woman took part in many meetings of local authorities. Very quickly in the USSR, she became "her own man." The liberal slogans of Angela passed strict control and were somewhat differently transmitted by translators.

Later, the workers of the Soviet Union were obliged to hand over 10 kopecks each to the Assistance Fund to Comrade Angela Davis. Students wrote letters to her in large numbers, a template of which was approved by the Central Committee of the CPSU.

Political activity

In 1980 and 1984, Davis Angela was fighting for the US vice-president's seat 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-skinned human rights activist lectures. In the early 1990s, a woman left the Communist Party, refusing to support an attempted coup in Russia.

Davis is deepening into scientific activity. At the same time, she continues to work to protect the rights of women prisoners. In 1997, Angela made a stunning confession. From her words, she is not only a feminist, but also a lesbian. All her relationships with the male sex, Angela Davis, whose personal life was hidden from the public for many years, called it "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 black-skinned human rights defender received the National Order of Playa-Chiron and a medal "To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of VI Lenin." In 1979, Davis was awarded the International Lenin Prize "For the Strengthening of Peace Among Nations". In 2004 Angela became the owner of 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 a part of these changes. " This is one of the most striking and popular quotes of the human rights activist. Her name forever became 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 thoughtless role of the victim."

Black-skinned human rights activist today

Now 72-year-old Davis Angela is positioning herself as a democratic socialist. It continues to fight for the rights of prisoners and women, is against the death penalty and homophobia.

She works at the University of California. Also Davis holds a director position in the department of feminist research. The legendary human rights activist continues to organize large-scale protests against oppression of people.