Angela Davis is an intersectional feminist academic and activist who has written in great depth about how class, race and gender interact with each other and how they are impacted by societal institutions. Much of her work discusses the experiences of marginalised groups and considers what can be done to combat discriminatory attitudes towards these groups so that everyone can reach their full potential. 

When I was first introduced to her work during my GCSEs, I felt one emotion: elation. I had never been exposed to anyone before in my entire education who I felt discussed matters that resonated with both my racial identity and sexuality.

Most of my lessons at school overlooked the experiences of lesbian women of colour, which led to me feeling as if my experiences in life may not be important enough to take note of. 

But she helped me to change my perspective. Born in 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama, she grew up in a racially segregated nation, and as the civil rights movement started to grow in influence, Angela began participating more in activist work. And she hasn’t stopped since!

She highlighted why the experiences of people like me matter. Her activist work has helped me make sense of certain encounters I have had in life and this has sparked a passion in me and has driven me to want to learn more about the experiences of those who are often overlooked, both in history and in the classroom.