Angela Y. Davis was inducted into the Justice Category in 2026.
Angela Y. Davis is an internationally recognized scholar and activist dedicated to combating oppression in the U.S. and globally. Her activism began in her youth in Birmingham, Alabama, and continued through her academic career. She gained national attention in 1969 after being dismissed from UCLA for her political beliefs and Communist Party affiliation. In 1970, she was placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List on false charges, leading to her arrest and a highly publicized trial. Following a global "Free Angela Davis" campaign, she was acquitted in 1972.
Davis is a leading advocate for prison abolition and a founding member of Critical Resistance, challenging systemic racism in the criminal justice system. She has lectured worldwide and authored numerous influential books. She is Distinguished Professor Emerita at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a prominent voice in feminist studies, racial justice, and social transformation.
