Tribute to Angela Davis

Angela Davis is often regarded as one of the most influential political Black female activists of the 20th century. as a Co-founding member of the Critical Resistance organization, a beloved professor, and a prolific author, Angela is believed to have been one of the first individuals to coin the term prison-industrial complex, which refers to the overlapping interests government and private industries have in over-surveillance, punishing, and imprisoning individuals for crimes routed in social, economic, and political inequities. Angela Davis gave her life to be a voice for the voiceless, often calling for the abolishment of the prison system, the end of the war in Vietnam, advocating on behalf of Palestinians, a Public supporter of the Black Panther Party, and a fighter for second-wave feminism. In 1969 Davis was hired as a philosophy professor at UCLA but was soon fired for her association with the Communist Party. While the court ruled the firing illegal, the university was quick to fire her once again on the grounds of inflammatory language. Angela Davis was not reinstated at UCLA despite her admiration among students and professors. Former California Governor Ronald Reagan once vowed that Angela Davis would never again teach in the University of California system. Today, she is Distinguished Professor Emerita in the History of Consciousness and Feminist Studies Departments at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Through this tribute, we hope to honor her legacy as her words continue to echo in our ears today.

All images were gathered from the UCLA Special Collections and encompass Daily Bruin articles, magazine covers, protest fliers, student work, and announcements published during Angela's time at UCLA.