Early Life and Education of Angela Davis: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Angela Davis, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Angela Davis is an American political activist, philosopher, academic, and author known for her work in civil rights and social justice. A former member of the Communist Party USA, she advocates for prison abolition, racial equality, and gender equality. She gained prominence in the 1960s and 70s through her involvement in the Black Panther Party and her own activism. Davis faced criminal charges in connection with a 1970 courtroom shooting, leading to a highly publicized trial and her eventual acquittal. She continues to lecture and write on issues of race, class, and gender, remaining a prominent figure in contemporary social and political discourse.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

January 26, 1944: Angela Davis Born

On January 26, 1944, Angela Yvonne Davis was born. She is an American Marxist, feminist, political activist, philosopher, academic, and author.

Others born on this day/year

1959: Girl Scouts National Roundup

In 1959, Angela Davis participated in the Girl Scouts national roundup in Colorado.

1962: Death of Reinhold Huhn

In 1962, Reinhold Huhn, an East German guard, was killed by a man trying to escape across the Berlin Wall with his family. Angela Davis later visited the Berlin Wall, where she laid flowers at the memorial for Reinhold Huhn.

1963: FBI Interview After Communist Festival

In 1963, Angela Davis returned home to a Federal Bureau of Investigation interview regarding her attendance at a communist-sponsored festival.

1963: Birmingham Church Bombing

In 1963, while in Biarritz, Angela Davis learned of the Birmingham church bombing, committed by the Ku Klux Klan, in which four black girls she knew were killed.

1965: Graduation from Brandeis

In 1965, Angela Davis graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

1968: Master's Degree from UC San Diego

In 1968, Angela Davis earned a master's degree from the University of California, San Diego.

1968: Joined Communist Party and Black Panther Party

In 1968, Angela Davis joined the Communist Party and became a member of the Black Panther Party, working with the Los Angeles branch where she directed political education. She retained her Communist Party membership while continuing to work with the Black Panther Party.

1969: Acting Assistant Professor at UCLA

Beginning in 1969, Angela Davis became an acting assistant professor in the philosophy department at UCLA, choosing it over Princeton and Swarthmore due to its urban location. She was known as a radical feminist, activist, a member of the Communist Party USA, and an affiliate of the Black Panther Party.

1969: Visit to Cuba

In 1969, Angela Davis was received by Fidel Castro as a member of a Communist Party delegation.

August 7, 1970: Courtroom Takeover in Marin County

On August 7, 1970, Jonathan Jackson took control of a courtroom in Marin County, California, arming black defendants and taking hostages, leading to a shootout with the police.

August 14, 1970: Warrant Issued for Arrest

On August 14, 1970, a warrant was issued for Angela Davis's arrest in connection to the Marin County courtroom takeover. She was charged with aggravated kidnapping and first-degree murder in the death of Judge Harold Haley.

October 13, 1970: Capture by FBI

On October 13, 1970, Angela Davis was found by FBI agents at a Howard Johnson Motor Lodge in New York City after fleeing California as a fugitive. President Richard Nixon congratulated the FBI on capturing "the dangerous terrorist Angela Davis."

1970: PhD Work at UC San Diego

Around 1970, Angela Davis completed some work towards a PhD at the University of California, San Diego; however, she never received the degree due to the FBI confiscating her manuscripts.

1970: Guns Used in Courtroom Takeover

In 1970, guns belonging to Angela Davis were used in an armed takeover of a courtroom in Marin County, California, resulting in four deaths.

January 5, 1971: Declaration of Innocence

On January 5, 1971, Angela Davis declared her innocence before the court and the nation at Marin County Superior Court. John Abt was one of her attorneys.

February 1971: Movement to Release Davis

By February 1971, more than 200 local committees in the United States and 67 in foreign countries were working to free Angela Davis from jail. Black writers formed a committee called the Black People in Defense of Angela Davis. John Lennon and Yoko Ono contributed the song "Angela".

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1971: Trial for Murder and Kidnapping

In 1971, Angela Davis faced trial for murder and kidnapping, with Margaret Burnham serving as her co-counsel.

January 28, 1972: Garrett Brock Trapnell hijacked TWA Flight 2

On January 28, 1972, Garrett Brock Trapnell hijacked TWA Flight 2. One of his demands was Angela Davis's release, highlighting the high profile of her case at the time.

February 23, 1972: Release on Bail

On February 23, 1972, Angela Davis was released on $100,000 bail, paid by Rodger McAfee with the help of Steve Sparacino. The United Presbyterian Church contributed to her legal defense.

June 4, 1972: Acquittal Verdict

On June 4, 1972, after 13 hours of deliberations, the all-white jury returned a verdict of not guilty in Angela Davis's trial. A juror made the Black Power salute after the verdict.

August 1972: Honorary Doctorate from Moscow State University

In August 1972, Angela Davis received an honorary doctorate from Moscow State University.

September 1972: Honorary Doctorate from Karl-Marx University

In September 1972, Angela Davis received an honorary doctorate from Karl-Marx University in Leipzig, Germany.

September 1972: Davis visited East Germany, met Erich Honecker, and received honorary degree

In September 1972, Angela Davis visited East Germany, where she met the state's leader Erich Honecker, received an honorary degree from the University of Leipzig, and the Star of People's Friendship from Walter Ulbricht. On September 11 in East Berlin she delivered a speech, "Not Only My Victory", praising the GDR and USSR and denouncing American racism.

1972: Acquittal of Charges

In 1972, after being held in jail for over a year, Angela Davis was acquitted of all charges related to the courtroom takeover.

1972: International Speaking Tour

In 1972, after her acquittal, Angela Davis went on an international speaking tour, including a trip to Cuba where she was received enthusiastically.

1973: Davis led U.S. delegation to festival in East Berlin

In 1973, Angela Davis returned to East Berlin, leading the U.S. delegation to the 10th World Festival of Youth and Students, continuing her involvement in international events.

1974: Attended Second Congress of the Federation of Cuban Women

In 1974, Angela Davis attended the Second Congress of the Federation of Cuban Women.

1975: Davis was a lecturer at the Claremont Black Studies Center

In 1975, Angela Davis was a lecturer at the Claremont Black Studies Center at the Claremont Colleges. Attendance was limited, and she taught in secret due to concerns from alumni benefactors about her Communist views.

1978: Davis taught at the San Francisco Art Institute

In 1978, Angela Davis taught a women's studies course at the San Francisco Art Institute, furthering her career in education.

1980: Davis accepted Communist Party USA's nomination for vice president

In 1980, Angela Davis accepted the Communist Party USA's nomination for vice president, as Gus Hall's running mate.

1980: Davis became a professor at San Francisco State University

In 1980, Angela Davis became a professor of ethnic studies at the San Francisco State University, a position she held until 1990.

1981: Returns to Germany to Continue PhD

In 1981, Angela Davis returned to Germany to continue working on her PhD.

1984: Davis accepted Communist Party USA's nomination for vice president again

In 1984, Angela Davis accepted the Communist Party USA's nomination for vice president, as Gus Hall's running mate, for the second time.

1984: Davis continued teaching at San Francisco State University

In 1984, Angela Davis continued as a professor of ethnic studies at the San Francisco State University.

1990: Davis taught political science courses at San Francisco State University

In 1990, Angela Davis taught political science courses at San Francisco State University, continuing her academic career.

1991: Davis became a professor at UC Santa Cruz and Rutgers University

In 1991, Angela Davis became a professor in the History of Consciousness and the Feminist Studies departments at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Rutgers University, expanding her influence in academia.

1991: Davis left the Communist Party USA

In 1991, Angela Davis left the Communist Party USA, founding the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism due to disagreements over the party's support of the 1991 Soviet coup attempt.

1991: Breaks from CPUSA, Joins UC Santa Cruz

In 1991, amid the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Angela Davis broke away from the CPUSA to help establish the CCDS. That same year, she joined the feminist studies department at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

1992: Davis was a visiting professor at Syracuse University

In the spring of 1992, Angela Davis was a distinguished visiting professor at Syracuse University.

1995: Davis opposed the Million Man March

In 1995, Angela Davis opposed the Million Man March, arguing that the exclusion of women promoted male chauvinism.

1995: Davis was Randolph Visiting Distinguished Professor of philosophy at Vassar College

In 1995, Angela Davis was the Randolph Visiting Distinguished Professor of philosophy at Vassar College.

1997: Davis came out as a lesbian

In 1997, Angela Davis came out as a lesbian in an interview with Out magazine.

2000: Davis formed the African American Agenda 2000

In 2000, Angela Davis, along with Kimberlé Crenshaw and others, formed the African American Agenda 2000, an alliance of black feminists.

2001: Davis spoke against the war on terror

In 2001, following the 9/11 attacks, Angela Davis publicly spoke against the war on terror, criticized the prison-industrial complex, and discussed the broken immigration system.

2005: Davis commented on Hurricane Katrina

In 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Angela Davis declared that the "horrendous situation in New Orleans" was due to the country's structural racism, capitalism, and imperialism.

2008: Davis became a distinguished professor emerita

In 2008, Angela Davis became a distinguished professor emerita at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Rutgers University, marking a transition in her academic career.

2008: Retirement from UC Santa Cruz

In 2008, Angela Davis retired from her position as department director at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

October 2010: Davis was a visiting professor at Syracuse University

In October 2010, Angela Davis was a distinguished visiting professor at Syracuse University.

October 31, 2011: Davis spoke at Occupy Wall Street assemblies

On October 31, 2011, Angela Davis spoke at the Philadelphia and Washington Square Occupy Wall Street assemblies.

2012: Davis identified as vegan

At the 27th Empowering Women of Color Conference in 2012, Angela Davis identified as vegan and called for the release of Rasmea Odeh.

2014: Davis returned to UCLA as a regents' lecturer

In 2014, Angela Davis returned to UCLA as a regents' lecturer, delivering a public lecture on May 8 in Royce Hall, where she had given her first lecture 45 years earlier.

2014: Davis maintained a relationship with CPUSA

In 2014, Angela Davis stated she continues to have a relationship with the CPUSA but has not rejoined.

January 21, 2017: Davis was honorary co-chair of Women's March on Washington

On January 21, 2017, Angela Davis was an honorary co-chair of the Women's March on Washington, held the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration. Her involvement drew criticism.

November 2019: Davis endorsed Jeremy Corbyn in the UK general election

In November 2019, Angela Davis, along with other public figures, signed a letter supporting Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and endorsed him in the 2019 UK general election.

January 20, 2020: Davis gave Memorial Keynote Address at University of Michigan's MLK Symposium

On January 20, 2020, Angela Davis gave the Memorial Keynote Address at the University of Michigan's MLK Symposium, honoring Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.

2020: Davis returned to Pomona College as a distinguished lecturer

In 2020, it was announced that Angela Davis would be the Ena H. Thompson Distinguished Lecturer in Pomona College's history department, marking her return after 45 years and highlighting her enduring influence in academic circles.

2020: Davis supported Joe Biden in the presidential election

In the 2020 presidential election, Angela Davis supported the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden.

2023: Davis discovered her ancestry on "Finding Your Roots"

In a 2023 episode of the PBS series "Finding Your Roots", Henry Louis Gates revealed to Angela Davis that she is a descendant of William Brewster, a passenger on the Mayflower. She also discovered that Alabama politician John A. Darden, is Davis's grandfather.

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