Angela Davis is a prominent American activist, scholar, and author known for her Marxist and feminist views. As a long-standing member of the Communist Party USA, she significantly contributed to social justice movements. Her affiliations included the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. Davis actively participated in notable movements like Occupy and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, establishing her legacy as a prominent figure in activism and academia.
January 26, 1944: Birth of Angela Davis
Angela Yvonne Davis was born on January 26, 1944. She would grow up to become an influential American Marxist, feminist political activist, philosopher, academic, and author.
1959: Protested Racial Segregation
In 1959, Angela Davis participated in the Girl Scouts' national roundup in Colorado and marched to protest racial segregation in Birmingham.
1962: Davis Visits Berlin Wall Memorial
While visiting the Berlin Wall, Angela Davis paid tribute at the memorial of Reinhold Huhn, an East German guard who was killed by someone trying to escape across the border in 1962.
1963: Attended Communist-Sponsored Festival
In 1963, Angela Davis attended the eighth World Festival of Youth and Students in Helsinki, which was communist-sponsored. She was interviewed by the FBI upon her return.
1963: Learned of Birmingham Church Bombing
While in Biarritz, France, Angela Davis learned of the 1963 Birmingham church bombing committed by the Ku Klux Klan, in which four black girls she knew were killed.
1965: Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brandeis
In 1965, Angela Davis graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
1968: Earned Master's Degree
In 1968, Angela Davis earned a master's degree from the University of California, San Diego.
September 19, 1969: Fired by Board of Regents
On September 19, 1969, the University of California Board of Regents fired Angela Davis from her $10,000-a-year post due to her membership in the Communist Party.
1969: Davis Visits Cuba with Communist Party Delegation
In 1969, Angela Davis traveled to Cuba as part of a Communist Party delegation, marking one of her early encounters with the country that would later shape her views on socialism and racial justice.
1969: Hired and Fired by UCLA
In 1969, Angela Davis was hired as an assistant professor of philosophy at UCLA. However, she was soon fired by the Board of Regents due to her membership in the Communist Party USA.
1969: Beginning of Filming for "Angela Davis: Portrait of a Revolutionary"
Filming began in 1969 for the documentary "Angela Davis: Portrait of a Revolutionary," capturing Davis' life and activism before the Marin County incident.
1969: Acting Assistant Professor at UCLA
Beginning in 1969, Angela Davis served as an acting assistant professor in UCLA's philosophy department, known for her radical feminist and activist stance.
June 20, 1970: Fired Again for Inflammatory Language
On June 20, 1970, Angela Davis was fired again by the Regents for using 'inflammatory language' in her speeches, including statements about the People's Park demonstrators and the police.
August 7, 1970: Courtroom Hostage Situation
On August 7, 1970, Jonathan Jackson, heavily armed, took control of a courtroom in Marin County, California, taking several hostages. This incident was significant in Angela Davis's legal challenges.
August 14, 1970: Warrant Issued for Davis' Arrest
On August 14, 1970, a warrant was issued for Angela Davis' arrest for her alleged involvement in the death of Judge Harold Haley. She was charged with "aggravated kidnapping and first degree murder" under California law, which considered "all persons concerned in the commission of a crime" as principals.
October 13, 1970: Davis Apprehended by the FBI
After becoming a fugitive, Angela Davis was found and arrested by FBI agents on October 13, 1970, at a Howard Johnson Motor Lodge in New York City. This event led to President Richard Nixon congratulating the FBI on capturing her.
1970: Dismissal from UCLA
Angela Davis was dismissed from her teaching position at UCLA in 1970.
1970: PhD Work Interrupted
Around 1970, Angela Davis's PhD work was interrupted when her manuscripts were confiscated by the FBI.
1970: Courtroom Incident and Charges
In 1970, guns registered to Angela Davis were used in an armed takeover of a courtroom in Marin County, California, resulting in four deaths. Davis was subsequently prosecuted for three capital felonies and held in jail for over a year.
January 5, 1971: Davis Professes Innocence
On January 5, 1971, during a court appearance at Marin County Superior Court, Angela Davis publicly declared her innocence, denying all charges brought against her by the state of California.
February 1971: Grassroots Movement for Davis' Release Emerges
By February 1971, a widespread movement demanding Angela Davis' release gained momentum, with over 200 committees across the US and 67 internationally working towards her freedom. The movement garnered support from various groups and individuals, including John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who released the song "Angela" in her support.
1971: CIA Reports Soviet Support for Davis
In 1971, the CIA reported that the Soviet Union dedicated a significant portion of its propaganda efforts to supporting Angela Davis' campaign, indicating her international recognition and the Cold War context of her activism.
1971: Trial for Murder and Kidnapping
In 1971, Angela Davis was tried for murder and kidnapping, charges she faced due to her alleged involvement in a 1970 courtroom incident. She was later acquitted in 1972.
1971: Premiere of "Angela is Happening"
Elvie Moore's play, "Angela is Happening," premiered in 1971, portraying Angela Davis' trial with historical figures like Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X as witnesses supporting her innocence.
1971: Woman of the Year by Time Magazine
In 1971, Angela Davis was named 'Woman of the Year' by Time magazine, recognizing her significant influence and activism.
January 28, 1972: Hijacking of TWA Flight 2
On January 28, 1972, Garrett Brock Trapnell hijacked TWA Flight 2 and demanded the release of Angela Davis.
February 23, 1972: Davis Released on Bail
After spending 16 months incarcerated, Angela Davis was released on a $100,000 bail on February 23, 1972. The bail was paid by Rodger McAfee, a dairy farmer, with help from Steve Sparacino, a businessman. The United Presbyterian Church contributed to her legal defense.
June 4, 1972: Davis Acquitted of All Charges
On June 4, 1972, after 13 hours of deliberation, an all-white jury found Angela Davis not guilty of all charges. The trial had been moved to Santa Clara County from Marin County. Despite her ownership of the guns used in the crime, the prosecution failed to convincingly establish her role in the plot, leading to her acquittal.
August 1972: Davis Visits Soviet Union, Receives Honors
In August 1972, Angela Davis visited the Soviet Union at the invitation of the Central Committee. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Moscow State University and the University of Tashkent during this visit.
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 Visits East Germany, Receives Honors and Delivers Speech
During her visit to East Germany in September 1972, Angela Davis met with state leader Erich Honecker, received an honorary degree from the University of Leipzig, and was given the Star of People's Friendship by Walter Ulbricht. She also delivered a speech titled "Not Only My Victory", praising East Germany and the Soviet Union while criticizing American racism.
1972: Release of "Angela Davis: Portrait of a Revolutionary"
The documentary "Angela Davis: Portrait of a Revolutionary," directed by Yolande du Luart, was released in 1972, documenting Davis' life and dismissal from UCLA between 1969 and 1970.
1972: Davis' Stance on Czechoslovakian Prisoners Draws Criticism
In 1972, Jiří Pelikán, a Czechoslovakian writer living in exile, publicly asked Angela Davis to support Czechoslovakian prisoners. Davis refused, believing they were undermining the government. This refusal, along with her alleged statement that the prisoners "deserve what they get", drew criticism and accusations of hypocrisy.
1972: Acquitted of Charges
In 1972, Angela Davis was acquitted of all charges related to the 1970 courtroom incident, after spending over a year in jail.
1972: Davis Embarks on International Speaking Tour
Following her acquittal, Angela Davis embarked on an international speaking tour in 1972. The tour included a visit to Cuba, where she received an enthusiastic welcome and strengthened her belief in socialism as a solution to racial inequality.
1972: Depiction in The Funerals of Togliatti
Angela Davis was featured in Renato Guttuso's 1972 painting, The Funerals of Togliatti, alongside other prominent figures of communism.
1973: Davis Leads US Delegation at World Festival of Youth and Students
Angela Davis headed the US delegation to the 10th World Festival of Youth and Students held in East Berlin in 1973, demonstrating her ongoing involvement in international youth and leftist movements.
1974: Davis Attends the Second Congress of the Federation of Cuban Women
In 1974, Angela Davis participated in the Second Congress of the Federation of Cuban Women, further demonstrating her commitment to international socialist and feminist movements.
1975: Solzhenitsyn Criticizes Davis' Silence on Socialist Countries' Prisoners
During an AFL-CIO meeting in 1975, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, a Russian dissident and Nobel laureate, criticized Angela Davis for not speaking out against the imprisonment of dissidents in socialist countries, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in her activism.
1975: Lecturer at Claremont Colleges
In 1975, Angela Davis faced significant challenges as a lecturer at the Claremont Colleges. Her course enrollment was limited, and she was forced to teach in secret due to opposition from alumni benefactors who disagreed with her communist ideologies. The college trustees took measures to minimize her presence on campus.
1976: Character Inspiration in "Network"
Marlene Warfield's character, Laureen Hobbs, in the 1976 film "Network" is believed to be inspired by Angela Davis.
September 10, 1977: Davis Expresses Support for Peoples Temple
On September 10, 1977, Angela Davis spoke to members of the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana, via amateur radio. During her statement, she expressed support for the group's anti-racism efforts and claimed the existence of a conspiracy against them.
February 28, 1978: Davis Writes to President Carter Supporting Jim Jones
Angela Davis wrote a letter to President Jimmy Carter on February 28, 1978, urging him not to intervene in retrieving a child from Jonestown. Her letter characterized Jim Jones as "a humanitarian", which later sparked controversy after the Jonestown massacre.
1978: Women's Studies Course at San Francisco Art Institute
Angela Davis taught a women's studies course at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1978.
May 1, 1979: Davis Receives Lenin Peace Prize
Angela Davis was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union on May 1, 1979, recognizing her work in promoting peace and social justice.
1980: Marriage to Hilton Braithwaite
Angela Davis married Hilton Braithwaite in 1980.
1980: Professor of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University
Beginning in 1980, Angela Davis served as a professor of ethnic studies at San Francisco State University.
1980: Communist Party USA Vice President Nomination
In 1980, Angela Davis accepted the Communist Party USA's nomination for vice president, running alongside Gus Hall.
1981: Continued PhD Work in Germany
In 1981, Angela Davis returned to Germany to continue her PhD work.
1983: End of Marriage to Hilton Braithwaite
Angela Davis's marriage to Hilton Braithwaite ended in 1983.
1984: Second Vice President Nomination
Angela Davis was nominated again for vice president by the Communist Party USA in 1984, running with Gus Hall for a second time.
1984: End of Professorship at SFSU
In 1984, Angela Davis's time as a professor of ethnic studies at San Francisco State University came to an end.
1991: Professor at UC Santa Cruz and Rutgers University
From 1991, Angela Davis embarked on a professorship at both the University of California, Santa Cruz and Rutgers University. She held positions in the History of Consciousness and Feminist Studies departments.
1991: Departure from the Communist Party USA
In 1991, Angela Davis left the Communist Party USA due to disagreements over their support of the Soviet coup d'état attempt. She went on to found the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism.
1991: Formed New Political Group and Joined UCSC
In 1991, amid the Soviet Union's dissolution, Angela Davis helped establish the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism and joined the feminist studies department at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
1992: Distinguished Visiting Professor at Syracuse University
Angela Davis held the position of distinguished visiting professor at Syracuse University in the spring of 1992.
1995: Opposition to the Million Man March
Angela Davis opposed the 1995 Million Man March, arguing that the exclusion of women from the event promoted male chauvinism.
1995: Randolph Visiting Distinguished Professor at Vassar College
In 1995, Angela Davis held the position of Randolph Visiting Distinguished Professor of philosophy at Vassar College.
1997: Co-Founded Critical Resistance
In 1997, Angela Davis co-founded Critical Resistance, an organization aimed at abolishing the prison–industrial complex.
1997: Publicly Came Out as Lesbian
In 1997, Angela Davis publicly came out as a lesbian during an interview with Out magazine.
2000: Formation of the African American Agenda 2000
In 2000, Angela Davis, along with Kimberlé Crenshaw and others, founded the African American Agenda 2000, an alliance focused on promoting the perspectives and interests of Black feminists.
2001: Opposition to the War on Terror
Following the 9/11 attacks, Angela Davis publicly spoke out against the subsequent War on Terror.
2003: Lecture on Prison Reform at Agnes Scott College
Angela Davis delivered a lecture at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, in 2003. The lecture focused on the topics of prison reform, minority issues, and the shortcomings of the criminal justice system.
2005: Critique of Response to Hurricane Katrina
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Angela Davis argued that the inadequate response in New Orleans exposed the deep-rooted issues of structural racism, capitalism, and imperialism present in the country.
2007: Television Interview on Herbert Marcuse
In a 2007 television interview, Angela Davis discussed the influence of Herbert Marcuse on her academic and activist pursuits.
2008: Distinguished Professor Emerita
Angela Davis concluded her professorship at UC Santa Cruz and Rutgers University in 2008 and assumed the title of distinguished professor emerita.
2008: Retirement from UCSC
In 2008, Angela Davis retired from her position at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she had served as department director.
October 2010: Distinguished Visiting Professor at Syracuse University
In October 2010, Angela Davis served as a distinguished visiting professor at Syracuse University.
October 31, 2011: Speech at Occupy Wall Street Assemblies
Angela Davis addressed the Philadelphia and Washington Square Occupy Wall Street assemblies on October 31, 2011.
2012: Publicly Announced Veganism
Angela Davis revealed her vegan lifestyle during the 27th Empowering Women of Color Conference in 2012.
2012: Blue Planet Award Recipient
Angela Davis received the 2011 Blue Planet Award in 2012, recognizing her contributions to humanity and the planet.
2014: Regents' Lecturer at UCLA
In 2014, Angela Davis returned to UCLA as a Regents' Lecturer and delivered a public lecture at Royce Hall, marking 45 years since her first lecture there.
2014: Relationship with CPUSA
In 2014, Angela Davis stated that while she still maintained a relationship with the CPUSA, she had not rejoined the party.
2016: Honorary Doctorate from CIIS
Angela Davis received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in Healing and Social Justice from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco during their 48th annual commencement ceremony in 2016.
January 21, 2017: Honorary Co-Chair of the Women's March on Washington
Angela Davis served as an honorary co-chair of the Women's March on Washington, which took place on January 21, 2017, the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration.
October 16, 2018: Honorary Degree from Dalhousie University
During its bicentennial celebration year, Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, bestowed an honorary degree upon Angela Davis on October 16, 2018.
2018: Angela Davis Featured in Prada Collection
In 2018, Prada's collection featured a cotton T-shirt with Angela Davis's image, signifying her cultural impact.
January 7, 2019: Rescinded Award from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) initially revoked Angela Davis's Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award on January 7, 2019. The decision, met with significant backlash, was later reversed.
November 2019: Support for Jeremy Corbyn
In November 2019, Angela Davis added her name to a letter of support for Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, endorsing him in the 2019 UK general election.
2019: Mural of Angela Davis in Naples
Italian street artist Jorit Agoch created a mural of Angela Davis in Naples' Scampia neighborhood in 2019, a testament to her global influence.
January 20, 2020: MLK Symposium Keynote Speaker
Angela Davis delivered the Memorial Keynote Address at the University of Michigan's MLK Symposium on January 20, 2020.
2020: Partnership with Gina Dent
By 2020, Angela Davis was living with her partner, Gina Dent, an academic and intersectional feminist researcher at UC Santa Cruz.
2020: Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2020, Angela Davis was included on Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world, highlighting her lasting impact on social justice and activism.
2020: Return to Pomona College
In 2020, forty-five years after her controversial tenure at the Claremont Colleges, Angela Davis was welcomed back as the Ena H. Thompson Distinguished Lecturer in Pomona College's history department.
2020: Support for Joe Biden
In the 2020 presidential election, Angela Davis gave her support to the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden.
2020: Publication of "Ms. Davis" in French
The graphic biography "Ms. Davis," by Amazing Améziane and Sybille Titeux de la Croix, focusing on Angela Davis' early life and trial, was published in French in 2020.
2021: Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Angela Davis achieved a significant honor in 2021 when she was elected as a member of the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
2023: Salary Equivalence in 2023
Angela Davis's $10,000 annual salary in 1969 is equivalent to $63,750 in 2023.
2023: Angela Davis' Ancestry Revealed on Finding Your Roots
In 2023, the PBS series Finding Your Roots revealed Angela Davis' lineage, including her descent from Mayflower passenger William Brewster and Alabama politician John A. Darden. Another episode unveiled her relation to Niecy Nash.
2023: Publication of "Ms. Davis" in English
The English translation of "Ms. Davis," the graphic biography about Angela Davis, was released in 2023.