Black History Month Spotlight: Angela Davis
By: Isabella Pikner
1/24/2021
In honor of Black History Month, Glasgow Students celebrate people who have impacted the world in which we live. Spotlight #10 is Angela Davis, a famous author, philosopher, and political activist.
Angela Davis was born in 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama. Her career centered around political activism against racism and sexism. She also wanted to reform the police and prison systems as both were heavily corrupt. As a child she grew up in a neighborhood targeted by the KKK, and because of the violence and hatred she witnessed she became very anti-violent and knew she had to make a change. She had witnessed her friends die in the Birmingham Church Bombing and knew she could not rest until equality was the standard.
During college she studied philosophy and became politically conscious during this time. She joined the communist party (which is a political branch of socialism where society is stateless, moneyless, and classless). Additionally, she joined the Che-Lumumba Club, which was an all black sector of the communist party. This is where most of her political activism began, and where she became the icon she is now.
Today, she has various books and still participates in interviews. Angela Davis is an incredibly influential figure for anti-racist activism and deserves to be reconzied for it. She fights for what is right no matter the cost. Her passion is a great inspiration to Glasgow students and her story shows us that no matter what we can follow our passion. Angela Davis’ activism continues to be an inspiration for every student who wants to make a change. We cannot thank her enough for her contributions and she is, and will always be, an idol.
Learn more here:
Sources: Angela Davis – HISTORY Angela Davis – Britannica
Isabella Pikner (she/her) is an 8th grader at Glasgow. She’s from Slovenia and moved to Virginia when she was 4. She plays volleyball and the cello. She likes drawing, painting, and the arts in general. A couple fun facts about her is that she used to dance for 10 years and her favorite movies are Howl’s Moving Castle and A Silent Voice.
