Complit 141 Good and Evil

Samuel Jackson

Epistemology can be defined as the study of one’s own knowledge regarding a topic. How do we know what we know? It could be argued that everyone engages in epistemology through introspection consistently over the course of their lives but it begs the question of how often one acts on their introspections. In the year of 2020, racial justice movements are at the forefront of international news and the minds of individuals around the world. During these times especially, it is vital for people to understand the events taking place around them to make change to the greater systems that cause these events. In mobilizing to maximize one’s ability to make change in their society, few individuals set a better example than Angela Davis, devout member of the American Communist movement, the Black Panther movement, and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. In Angela Davis: An Autobiography, Davis demonstrates that in order to effectively insight change based on one’s cultural awareness, one must understand the truth of their system by achieving awareness of aspects of the system on multiple levels, including the broader awareness of the system itself, the understanding of others’ place in the system, and the awareness of one’s own place in it.

Over the course of her autobiography, Davis goes into depth regarding the weaknesses of the United States government and justice system as a whole. It is these shortcomings of the system she lives in that inform her activism over the course of the book, and she explicitly states how the justice system disadvantages black Americans several times. Davis makes the flaws of the United States’ justice system clear, but she further emphasizes the necessity to be accurate in the portrayal of her system’s faults from another angle. While protesting against the practices of the government with the United Front Against Fascism, Davis takes issue with the notion shared by other members of the movement that the United States is a fascist state, rather than a democratic state that adopts fascist ideals. In fact, Davis proposes:

The basic difficulty, I thought, was that we were being asked to believe that the monsters of fascismhad already broken loose and that we were livingin in a country not essentially different from Nazi Germany. Certainly, we had to fight the mounting threat of fascism, but it was incorrect and misleading to inform people that we were already living under fascism. Moreover, the resistance dictated by such an analysis would surely lead us in the wrong direction…. For, if we believed we were living under genuine fascism, it would mean that virtually all democratic channels of struggle were closed and we would immediately and desperately rush into the armed struggle. (Davis 198-199)

This understanding of what constitutes a fascist state holds importance for Davis, as it clarifies what exactly the movement fights for, and how the fight should be carried out. This shows Davis’s belief that an in-depth understanding of the system one opposes is necessary as it streamlines the objective and allows for appropriate planning towards dismantling the oppressive system. It is not sufficient that one merely knows what they are opposing; it is equally vital that they accurately understand why the force they oppose is worth fighting.

While Davis chiefly calls into question the objectives of the justice system as a whole, she frequently cites instances in her life where others exemplify and interact with the system. Davis believes that measuring the understanding of others’ places in the world is key to painting a picture of the sum of the system they belong to, as it presents those who occupy roles as benefactors and disenfranchised of the system. This is shown in the book while Davis is attending Brandeis on-campus. Davis makes it clear that she does not enjoy her time at the college as she feels isolated as a black student on campus, while her peers are privileged and tonedeaf regarding racial and political issues in the country. She takes note of this especially when preparing for James Baldwin to give a speech at the school before the Cuban Missile Crisis interrupts the event. Regarding this, Davis writes:

They were not interested in the fact that the people of Cuba were in terrible jeopardy–or even that millions of innocent people elsewhere might be destroyed if a nuclear conflict broke out. They were interested in themselves, in saving their own lives. Girlfriends and boyfriends went off together to get in their last little bit of love. (Davis 119)

The reader can see Davis’s disgust at the response of the rest of the student body, which displays lack of understanding and insight into the effects and reasons of the Missile Crisis from a Cuban civilian’s perspective. One could argue that this informs Davis of the feelings of the privileged regarding events that do not immediately affect them. That is, they make the issue about them, or dismiss it entirely. Drawing a broader understanding of the reactions of various groups in the face of oppression of their system of government exemplifies the relationships others have with said system, further informing one of the nature of the system they are part of.

Another aspect of the cultural awareness of others involves observing who the public views as worthy of praise. When Martin Luther King Jr. is killed, Davis laments his death as she understands him as a proponent of the black freedom movement on an economic movement but recognizes his gentle and palatable demeanor portrayed to the public. SNCC recognizes that many Americans in support of the black freedom movements would not understand the reason for his assassination and decides to spread awareness of the anti-war and economic equality messages that got him killed (Davis 143-144). The ability to understand the views of others allows for the effective spread of ideas about the movement one wishes to promote. Davis sees this as important because keeping the public informed allows for the most possible exposure to the truths of societal issues, and maximizes the number of people who view these issues as worthy of tackling.

In order to make change based on the cultural awareness one possesses, there must be an understanding of one’s own place in the system in question. In her autobiography, Davis recounts moments in her life that she feels aided in preparing her for challenging the oppressive justice system of the United States. These are moments that show her the role she occupies in the nation as a black woman and natural proponent for equality. A powerful instance of this is referenced just prior to the climax of the book’s main storyline, in which Davis stands trial on accounts of crimes she did not commit. In this instance, Davis once again recalls a time at Brandeis, in which she and her friend take a roadtrip to Gloucester, MA. Upon returning, they stay at the dorm of their male friends but are caught and made to stand trial for staying in the boys’ dorms overnight. Davis states that “I never forgot the self-righteous condemnation of that tribunal. They were convinced they had a right to play God, master and mother. Since we refused to accept their way of life, we were “moral criminals” and they wanted to see us punished” (Davis 351). This story from her past is juxtaposed with the climax of the main plotline for the reason that the two instances are strikingly similar, though to differing scales. Her trial at Brandeis is unfair and unnecessary, as her offences are subjective and conducive to a conservative ideal of women. Even a decade later, Davis is unrightfully tried for subjective reasons. She knows, however, that she is essentially tried for challenging the status quo set by the greater systems surrounding her. Davis’s analysis of her own life prior to taking part in the black equality movement informs her of her place in society. While she may be angered by the unjust hand she is dealt as a black woman, she acknowledges why her life is disadvantaged, and this understanding motivates her to act against the system that has oppressed her life.

Throughout her life, Angela Davis builds herself to understand the complex systems at play that work to oppress her, while also mastering her ability to exploit and stand in opposition to these oppressive systems. She does this by strengthening her ideas of the United States government and justice systems as a whole, and their relationships with the people who occupy the nation, including herself. In following the example set by Davis, one can make a greater effort to insight positive change in the communities they are part of.

Works Cited

Davis, Angela Y. Angela Davis: An Autobiography. International Publishers, 1988.