1974 – Angela Davis Returns to Teaching

On May 10, 1974, Angela Davis resumed her academic career by accepting a teaching position at Claremont College, following years of political activism and legal battles. Davis had become internationally known after being placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list and later acquitted of charges related to a 1970 courtroom incident. Her return to teaching symbolized both resilience and the importance of critical Black scholarship in higher education. Davis taught philosophy and women\’s studies, emphasizing issues like prison abolition, Black feminism, and Marxist theory. Her presence in academia marked a bold shift in who was seen as worthy to educate at the collegiate level. May 10 stands as a powerful reminder that radical thought and scholarship are not mutually exclusive. Davis’s career has since spanned decades, and she remains one of the most important public intellectuals in American history.