Legendary social activist and women's rights advocate Angela Davis spoke to the Penn community Friday evening regarding issues of sexuality and social justice.
Davis shared the stage in Irvine Auditorium with History professor Mary Frances Berry.
Davis and Berry served as trailblazers during the Civil Rights Movement. Friday evening's discussion spoke about misogynistic behavior, the American educational system and sociopolitical concerns.
Berry addressed a culture that she believes still regards black women as separate from mainstream culture -- despite the gains of the civil rights movement.
"A slave woman couldn't be raped because she was property," Berry said. "Black women are still struggling with this [ideology] today" of being falsely labeled as "exotic, whorish."
"Sexuality has played a major role in shaping racism," Davis said.
Liberal political undertones ran throughout the speech.
Davis and Berry both felt that the federal government often places a higher value on products than it does on people.
"We don't think about the young girls who are forced to make the very clothes that we wear," Davis said.
"When [President] Bush talks about freedom, he's talking about capital." Berry said. "It's impossible for Bush to spread freedom and then tell somebody how to run their country."
The speakers have held spots in the public eye for decades. As a former member of the Black Panthers Organization and Communist Party, Davis, through the years, she has uplifted many and upset others.
Davis' involvement in the civil rights movement led many racially oppressed minorities to actively demand justice and equality.
Berry served as a long-time commissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights and was the Assistant Secretary of Education during President Jimmy Carter's term.
As a firm advocate for economic improvement, Berry encouraged the audience to "create organizations that provide greater help to low-income mothers."
Davis expressed a sense of hope for the nation, that it would come together and assist those in need.
"I haven't given up on socialism," she said.
Davis called on young people to take an active role in developing their ideas and "projecting" them for the future.
The audience seemed to respond to this call.
"It was extremely inspiring," College of General Studies graduate student Cary Miller said. "They did a good job of complementing each other's view points."
Professor of Sociology Tukufu Zuberi moderated the dialogue -- which marked the third annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture in social justice.
