Angela Davis, a political activist, will speak to students, staff, and faculty about her life in political activism Thursday at 6 p.m. at Shyrock Auditorium.

Davis is known for her political activism on issues regarding race, gender and class. Her main body of work is about the mistreatment of prisoners in the U.S.

Assistant director of the Center of Inclusive Excellence Derrick Williams said Davis’ speech would give students an insight into the struggles minorities face.

“Most know Angela Davis as an iconic figure that is synonymous with her afro,” Williams said. “This talk will give students a more intimate understanding of her past work and her current work, as well. I think students will benefit seeing Angela Davis because it will give students an opportunity to listen to her trials and tribulations, as well as her journey.”

There are also students who are excited about the speech.

“It’s amazing to actually see a Civil Rights icon and learn about what she does about the prison industrial complex,” said Jovan Gathings, a junior studying intercultural communication from Chicago.

“I think it’s important for students to see someone who stood up for gender rights and equal rights as a whole.”

He said the university’s large population of students from Chicago will benefit the most from the speech.

“SIU has a large body of Chicago students where the crime rate is heavy, and the amount of black males in prison is even heavier,” he said. “Chicago students need to see hope. Our students aren’t exposed to those types of people enough.”

Davis is most known for involvement with the Black Panther Party, and raising awareness for other social issues such as gender equality and the prison-industrial complex.

Davis’s support of prisoners began during the 1970 case of the Soledad Brothers: John W. Cluchette, Fleeta Drumgo and George Lester Jackson, who were inmates in Soledad Prison. They were accused of killing a prison guard after evidence showed several other African-American men were killed during a fight with a different guard.

Jackson attempted to escape from his trial in 1970 when his brother, Jonathan, broke into the courtroom with an automatic weapon. Several people in the courtroom were killed, and Davis was accused of orchestrating the entire ordeal.

Evidence showed the guns used were registered in her name. Davis spent roughly 18 months in jail, but was acquitted of all charges in June of 1972.

Since then, she has been vocal about the mistreatment of prisoners, particularly minorities.

Williams said Davis was an important figure to him from an early age.

“Davis’ work shapes and frames how I look at the prison-industrial complex. I’m interested in knowing how this system impacts men of color and what strategies and tools are available for them when they are released. I also look at how the prison-industrial complex affects children and communities when these men are taken away.”

Williams said on average, many states invest more into prison than their education systems, including higher education.

Davis is the author of several books on this subject and researched the issue extensively.

Kia Smith can be contacted at [email protected] on Twitter @KiaSmith__ or at 536-3311 ext. 268.