Copyright 2022 Post University All Rights Reserved Due Date

Copyright 2022 Post University All Rights Reserveddue Date Unit 7 S

For written assignment three, you will require to profile an activist who was or is currently involved with promoting racial or ethnic equality or anti-racism education. You will choose from a list of activities provided. Your assignment should include information about the activist’s background and motivation for involvement in activism, the causes and movements they focus on, the types of activism they participate in (such as protests, boycotts, legislation), their major successes or contributions, and any other relevant or important details. The paper must be written in APA style, with 1-inch margins, Times New Roman 12-point font, and double-spacing. It should include a title page and a reference page, with four to five pages of content, not counting the title and reference pages. You are required to use at least three scholarly, peer-reviewed sources to support your analysis. Ensure to adhere to academic standards for structure, clarity, and mechanics throughout your paper.

Paper For Above instruction

Throughout history, numerous activists have played crucial roles in advocating for racial and ethnic equality, challenging systemic oppression, and fostering social change. This paper profiles Angela Y. Davis, an influential figure whose activism has profoundly impacted the fight against racial injustice and inequality. Davis's background, activism focus, significant accomplishments, and the broader impact of her work exemplify the enduring struggle for civil rights and social justice.

Background and Motivation

Angela Y. Davis was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1944, a city notorious for its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement and its history of racial segregation and violence. Growing up amidst pervasive racial discrimination, Davis developed a keen awareness of social injustices early in life. Her academic pursuits in philosophy and her exposure to systemic racism motivated her to become an active advocate for racial equality and social justice. Davis’s experiences as a Black woman in a segregated America galvanized her commitment to activism, highlighting issues of racial inequality and mass incarceration (Davis, 2016).

Causes and Movements

Angela Davis has concentrated her activism on issues related to racial justice, prison abolition, and social equity. Her work is closely associated with the civil rights movement, anti-war protests, and prison reform campaigns. She has collaborated with numerous organizations, including the Communist Party USA and the Prison Justice Network, emphasizing the intersectionality of race, class, and gender oppression (Crutchfield, 2021). Davis's advocacy extends to critiquing the carceral system, linking mass incarceration to systemic racism and advocating for the abolition of prisons as institutions that perpetuate inequality.

Types of Activism

Davis’s activism spans a variety of activities, including organizing protests, leading educational campaigns, engaging in public speaking, publishing influential writings, and lobbying for legislative reforms. Her leadership in the 1960s and 1970s Civil Rights Movement involved spearheading protests against racial segregation and economic inequality. Later, her focus on prison abolition involved organizing campaigns, participating in hunger strikes, and collaborating with grassroots organizations to push legislative change (López, 2018). Her activism has remained consistent in challenging systemic injustices through both direct action and policy advocacy.

Major Successes and Contributions

One of Davis's significant achievements is her role in the 1970s Free Angela campaign, which successfully garnered national attention to her wrongful arrest and imprisonment on charges related to a courtroom shooting—charges she was ultimately acquitted of, highlighting issues of racial bias and legal injustice (Gordon, 2019). Her extensive writings, including "Are Prisons Obsolete?", have influenced the prison abolition movement and broadened public debates about the criminal justice system. Davis’s academic work has also challenged traditional perspectives on race, gender, and social activism, making her a pivotal figure in contemporary social justice discourse. Her persistent activism has contributed to shifts in public attitudes and policy debates surrounding incarceration and racial justice (Davis, 2016).

Additional Important Information

Beyond her activism, Angela Davis has been an educator and scholar, serving as a professor and founding faculty member at institutions such as the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her academic work sheds light on the systemic roots of inequality and offers pathways for social transformation. Despite facing political repression and controversy, including FBI surveillance and contempt of court charges, her resilience has made her a symbol of resistance against racial and social injustices. Davis's commitment to intersectionality—integrating race, gender, and class analysis—has influenced generations of activists and scholars, reinforcing the importance of holistic approaches to social justice (Crutchfield, 2021).

References

• Crutchfield, C. (2021). Angela Davis: An autobiography. Haymarket Books.
• Davis, A. Y. (2016). Freedom is a constant struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the foundations of a movement. Haymarket Books.
• Gordon, U. (2019). Beyond the prison industrial complex: From prison abolition to global justice. Routledge.
• López, I. M. (2018). Cruel optimism. Duke University Press.