Angela Davis’s activism was deeply influenced by her background, particularly her upbringing in a racially segregated southern city and her education in Marxist ideology. Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, her experiences with racism and witnessing the struggles for civil rights shaped her commitment to social justice. Attending Brandeis University and later studying in Europe further expanded her understanding of intersections between race, class, and gender, which defined her activist approach. Davis's involvement with the Black Panther Party and her advocacy for political prisoners are legacies of her rich, albeit tumultuous, influences during her formative years.