Racial prejudice has been an on growing issue that society faces day in and day out. Fortunately, since the early 1900s racial prejudice has become less severe, as more serious issues such as transgender and gay marriage has become more of a focus. We owe the decrease of racial prejudice to our African American heroes who have risen up and spoken publicly to their beliefs, “all men are created equal”.

A well-known radical African American educator by the name of Angela Davis, is best known for her activist for civil rights and other social issues. She was born on January 26^th, 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama. Davis grew up learning much about racial prejudice from her own personal experiences with discrimination, growing up in her hometown. She additionally has conducted extensive research on numerous issues relating to race, gender, and imprisonment.

Davis went to Brandeis University where she studied philosophy and attended graduate school at the University of California, San Diego in the later 1960’s. While furthering her education at a University she also wanted to become more involved, leading Davis to join the Black Panthers in addition to an all-black branch of the Communist Party. Additionally, Davis was strongly influenced by the deaths of the women killed in the bombing of the Baptist Church in her hometown so she additionally decided to join the Civil Rights Movement.

Angela Davis, known as a world-renowned political activist gained her well known reputation during her imprisonment and trial on conspiracy charges which took place from 1970-1972. She was charged with aiding the escape attempt of imprison black radical George Jackson, whom she was apparently in love with and served roughly 18 months in jail before her clearing in 1972. Davis had several charges pressed against her, including murder. 

After spending her time in prison, she became an educator and authored several books.Davis has taught at UCLA, Vassar, Stanford, and currently educates young adults at the University of California, Santa Cruz; where she’s been for several years. Davis has published nine books while lecturing throughout the US and other countries in South America, along with Europe, Africa, Asia, Austria. Her most recent book is Called Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement where Davis focuses on the connections between struggles against state violence and oppression throughout history and around the world and strongly reflects on the importance of black feminism. Throughout all of Davis’ activism in the past decades, she has been deeply involved in our nations quest for social justice.

When comparing Angela Davis and Hallward, we seem to find a common trend; they both want to share one story which opens one door, in which many people can enter that one door. Davis speaks strongly about racism towards blacks, where Hallward talks about shame, and how sharing just one person’s personal story can open the door for so many other people can begin to share their stories, in hopes to create a change and help better society. Both of these people share their own personal stories to help open new doors for other people. In Hallwards’ Ted Talk, a study from TK Houston showed that listening to stories improves health which both these strong, powerful women are making a strong aim to do. Both of these individuals have strong ideas on how they want to promote social change, by sharing their stories, opening doors in which many people can enter, studying, observing, and educating to promote social change for us Americans.

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/angela-davis            

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Angela-Davis

https://www.une.edu/news/2019/une-presents-activist-angela-davis-part-mlk-jr-celebration