Angela Davis is a scholar and activist whose courage in the face of persecution transformed her into one of the most influential voices for justice in our time.
In 1970, our government was actively trying to destroy one of the most impactful groups of our time – the Black Panthers. As a member of the movement, Angela Davis faced murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy charges stemming from an armed courthouse takeover she had not attended. She spent over sixteen months in jail before being acquitted in 1972. What makes Davis’s legacy so powerful her life after that experience. She leaned into public life through decades of scholarly work and activism. She recognized that her notoriety could be put to a greater use for the common good. Similar to today, we see people leaning into the common good, and leaning into community activism as a way to stand strong and united against our neighbors being taken away, our children being afraid to go to school, and our local economies being put to the test.
Davis’s scholarship on the intersections of race, gender, and class has shaped how we understand oppression and resistance. She continues to teach us that freedom requires both dismantling harmful systems and building new ones rooted in care, education, and community support.
Right now, as communities face increased surveillance and enforcement, Davis’s vision feels more urgent than ever. Her work reminds us that acting despite fear means building movements, supporting each other, and refusing to accept systems that treat people as disposable.
Supporting your community might mean showing up for neighbors facing threats. It might mean educating yourself about the systems that harm the most vulnerable, or contributing your time and resources, or voice to organizations fighting for a world where the inherent dignity of all is recognized.
Angela Davis showed us that one person’s refusal to be silenced can spark a global movement. We honor her legacy by continuing to imagine and build a just world.
Stand with your community by building the world we deserve. Please give today to help Minneapolis communities survive these times.
