For the past few years, activist Angela Davis has been focused mainly on the area of prison reform as well as social consciousness and feminist studies at her most recent job at the University of California, Santa Cruz. But today, as a retired professor who busies herself by lecturing around the nation, she will be visiting Pacific University with very little revealed about her discussion itinerary.
“All the communication with her has been one-way,” warned Director for the Peace and Spirituality Center Dave Boersema. “I have no idea what she is going to talk about.”
Although there is much suspense surrounding Davis’ upcoming lecture at Pacific on Feb. 6, Boersema still feels that the stage has been set for her.
Davis first became notorious in 1969 when she was fired from her post as associate professor of philosophy at University of California, Los Angeles. The Board of Regents at the university had moved to have Davis fired from her controversial affiliations with the Communist Party USA and the Black Panther Party. Later, Davis resumed her post after Judge Jerry Pacht said she could not be fired based off of her affiliations. Finally, in 1970, Davis was once again fired because the Board of Regents had found “inflammatory language” in four of her speeches.
Davis also became known as one of the faces on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitive List in 1970. After 17-year-old Jonathan Jackson initiated a shooting, inviting two other African-American defendants in a Marin County Courtroom, it was revealed that the guns used had been purchased by Davis. A massive attempt to find and arrest Davis soon followed. After spending several months in jail, Davis pled and was found not guilty by a jury because her purchase of the guns was not enough evidence to deem her responsible for the plot.
Davis continued to be involved in the world of activism that was different from others. In Boersema’s words, she could be described as a “female Malcolm X” and someone who was “very much more in-your-face about making social change.”
After last spring’s lecture by Arun Gandhi, Boersema thought Davis would provide the Pacific audience with a different, interesting perspective on peace. Boersema was able to sum up this less subtle approach to peace in one sentence.
“You can strive for the things you believe in realizing that sometimes it’s going to be a bumpy road.”
Boersema met Davis five years ago at a peace conference and was first struck by her obvious confidence.
“She’s not warm and fuzzy by any means,” Boersema described further. “But she is a very gracious, pleasant person.”
When you combine Davis’ history with her experiences in non-traditional social change, Boersema feels that the first thought many will have of Davis will be similar to his which was, “Whoa, here is a real, radical activist.”
More importantly, however, Boersema explained that when attending her lecture, the audience should try to make the same connections that Davis does between the values of education and civic engagement.
Angela Davis’ lecture will take place on Feb.6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Stoller Center. Tickets are required and free for students and faculty. To receive one free ticket, students must show their Boxer Card at the University Box Office.
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