I’ve gone about reading Angela Davis’s work in the ‘wrong’ order probably, since I’ve not yet read her much-lauded Women, Race & Class, Freedom is a Constant Struggle or Are Prisons Obsolete? I have a lot of catching up to do! But obviously I’m aware of her activism and when I saw her autobiography in a charity shop last year, I couldn’t pass up any opportunity to learn more about this woman, her politics and impact. A good decision, since this book is extremely interesting and gives a great overview of why Davis has dedicated her life to fighting for racial justice.

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From growing up in Alabama in a town where white residents regularly bombed the houses of Black residents for daring to move into houses too close to the ‘white side’ to becoming a lifelong member of the Communist Party, as well as a political prisoner for a time, Davis lays out what led her to this commitment. It’s interesting that she was averse to writing an autobiography at all, as she didn’t want her one personal story to detract from the community struggle of which she is a part. But tackling it as a political autobiography made her see how valuable such a book could be, if she could enlighten other people as to why she gave up so much for the cause. Her relentless and selfless drive to end oppression is nothing less than awe-inspiring.

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I’ll be buying myself copies of her other work as soon as I’m able, and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read her.

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(Also shout out to How To Get Away with Murder because I’d have understood a lot less about the legal references in this book without it, ha! TV can teach you something.)