Buy Civil Rights Icon Angela Davis’ Childhood Home in Birmingham

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There are a handful of women who have raised the consciousness of the public and the ire of the powers that be to the extent of civil rights leader and educator Angela Davis.

Born in 1944, and educated at the likes of Brandeis, University of California, and the University of Paris, Davis has carved out a name for herself as an activist, writer, politician, and formidable voice for people of color over her 73 years. All of her many accomplishments took root in Birmingham, AL.

Davis’ powerful struggle popped back onto our radar when we noticed her childhood home was for sale. Listed for $150,000, this four-bedroom, two-bath home has a total of 10 rooms, including a den, dining room, attic, and basement—all on a 10,000-square-foot corner lot. The real estate listing describes it as a Queen Anne ready for restoration.

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The Davis family was the first black family to live in the house, and the neighborhood was front and center in the fight for fair housing in the mid-20th century. The historic significance of the home is apparent from the photos, but also from its location in Birmingham’s storied Dynamite Hill neighborhood, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The neighborhood got its name from its turbulent past, being a frequent target of terrorist attacks by white supremacists attempting to keep the black population from crossing racial divides and asserting their civil rights. By this, the town gained its “Bombingham” nickname.

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Davis’ upbringing in Birmingham, and her childhood home on the front lines of America’s civil rights battle, reportedly helped form her political identity at an early age and solidify her remarkable educational and professional accomplishments. Watch Davis in the below video discussing her upbringing and her personal connection to the four girls killed in the Birmingham church bombing in 1963:

The opportunity to restore this historic site comes as other significant African-American landmarks are receiving newfound attention. Just as a group of African-American artists are attempting to preserve the North Carolina birthplace of legendary musician Nina Simone, people are becoming increasingly aware of how fragile historical preservation can be—particularly in lesser explored corners of American history. At a time when so much advancement in civil rights has been accomplished but the political climate remains deeply divided, such efforts are all the more valuable.

Will this site with a strong tie to America’s civil rights struggles find new life as a historical landmark? Time will tell, but according to listing agent Debbie Burks, potential buyers have been interested in turning the Davis home into an African-American or women’s historical library, among other projects.

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“The structure is sound,” says Burks. The home has a new roof, new furnace, and, while in need of painting and central air, is livable as is. “Put $75,000 into it,” she says, “and it would be gorgeous.” We sense history in the making.

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