Origins & Early Life

Angela Yvonne Davis (born January 26, 1944) is an American Marxist feminist political activist, philosopher, academic, and author. She is Distinguished Professor Emerita of Feminist Studies and History of Consciousness at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Davis was a longtime member of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA), running for Vice President in the 1980 and 1984 elections under that party. She is also a founding member of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (CCDS).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She has been active in movements such as the Occupy movement and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign. Davis was born in Birmingham, Alabama; she studied at Brandeis University and the University of Frankfurt. She also studied at the University of California, San Diego, before moving to East Germany, where she completed some studies for a doctorate at the Humboldt-University of Berlin. After returning to the United States, she joined the CPUSA and became involved in the second-wave feminist movement and the campaign against the Vietnam War. In 1969, she was hired as an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

UCLA's governing Board...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aimee Semple McPherson — Contemporary (Died in 1944) (1944): Pioneering Pentecostal evangelist, famous for founding the Foursquare Church.
• Alan Parker — Contemporary (Born in 1944) (1944): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Ali Sayad Shirazi — Contemporary (Born in 1944) (1944): Key Iranian military commander during the Iran-Iraq War, assassinated in 1999.
• A. E. van Vogt — Shared historical date (01-26 · Died) (2000): Influential Canadian-American science fiction writer known for bizarre narratives.
• Akio Morita — Shared historical date (01-26 · Born) (1921): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Alice Walker — Historical peer (Born in 1944) (1944): Pioneering voice in American literature, activist for civil rights and womanism.
• Aristide Maillol — Historical peer (Died in 1944) (1944): Master French sculptor and painter, renowned for monumental works and decorative arts.
• Abby Wambach — Historical peer (Born in 1980) (1980): Iconic American soccer forward, celebrated for her goal-scoring prowess and longevity.
• Adande Thorne — Historical peer (Born in 1980) (1980): Trinidadian-American YouTuber, animator, comedian, and actor known as Swoozie.
• AB de Villiers — Historical peer (Born in 1984) (1984): Iconic South African cricketer, celebrated for his all-around batting genius.
• 1944 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1944
• January 26 (01-26) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 26