Story & Photos by Elise Elshire
The over-arching theme of the eighth annual Women of Color Conference was “ending oppression through expression”, a New Year’s resolution set by the ASUO Women’s Center. Primarily organized by the Women’s Center, the two-day conference ended Saturday with a closing keynote speech from Angela Davis, the famous civil rights activist, feminist, and grassroots leader. She is perhaps best known for her anti-prison activism and for once being on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
The event was sold out, and those without tickets were on a waiting list. Students, community members, and different organizations packed inside the lobby, and more waited outside. Excited conversation filled the room, until it spilled over into the 500-person lecture hall when the doors opened at 6:30pm.
Student Lola Oshinowo said her family encouraged her to see Davis, whom she regards as a powerful woman. Oshinowo expected “to be enlightened” by her words.
Davis opened with the idea that imagination is key in the process of ending oppression. Because the capacity of imagination is greater in youth, she said, young people must take the lead to end oppression. During the Civil Rights Movement, also known as the Freedom Movement, it took imagination for activists to combat racism, but, Davis said, some voices were not acknowledged. Black women’s role in civil rights was over-looked, and as a result, she said “civil rights are not the whole story of freedom”.
Black women were also invisible during the women’s movement, she said. Davis didn’t consider herself a feminist until 1981, despite the fact that she had fought for women’s rights for many years before then.
When commenting on the current state of the United States, Davis is disappointed that the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act failed in December 2010. If it had passed, the Act would have allowed students who grew up in the United States to join the military or pursue higher education.
Davis then moved from the DREAM Act to abolitionism, and said that if slavery had truly been abolished then we would not have needed the Civil Rights Movement. She emphasized the need for the abolition of imprisonment in favor of a new system and for more creative ways of addressing violence. We, she said, need to ask ourselves, “Why is violence against women such a pandemic all over the world?” and ask why individuals commit other acts of violence.
Our solution, Davis said, is to send perpetrators to prison, instead of questioning the cycle of violence and how to stop it. She added the rate and numbers of rapes and other violent acts have not improved, despite new institutions that help women. This, Davis concluded, suggests that not only do victims need help, but also those who commit crimes.
Davis’ speech was met with much enthusiasm, and applause erupted between her points. Although she did not have a question and answer session, Davis signed ticket stubs and talked to audience members afterwards.

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Activist Concludes Women of Color Conference