Belva Davis (Finding Aid)

Belva Davis

1932 -

Favorite Color: Yellow

Favorite Food: Southern Greens

Favorite Time of Year: Summer

Favorite Vacation Spot: Italy and islands around the world

Interview Length: 140 minutes

Interview Date(s): March 27, 2002

Interview Location(s): 1255 California Street, San Fransicco, California, 1255 California St., San Francisco, California, 1255 California Street, San Francisco, California

Abstract

Noted broadcast journalist Belva Davis describes her early childhood in Louisiana. Born to teen parents, Davis was raised by her maternal aunts, one of whome died while she was still young. An uncle's winning legal suit against Armour Meat Packing led to death threats and the eventual escape of the males of the family to California. HTe women and children joined them soon after and Davis details her new life in the Bay Area. Journalist Belva Davis describes her life in Berkeley, California as a teen struggling against twin obstacles of racism and low income. Davis details her high school life where she felt the sting of segregation. Unable to afford college, DAvis takes a job at the Naval shipyard and quickly marries and moves to Washington, DC with her husband, Two children and a dissolved marriage later, Davis finds herself writing items for Jet magazine then later, the Bay Area Independent. Journalist Belva Davis details her life as a single mom, struggling to raise 2 children on a freelancers salary. Her best friend, Bill Moore, became her second husband, and supported her efforts to become San Francisco's first black female TV news reporter. Davis encountered static, especially from her coworkers, some of whom resented her interracial marriage. Groundbreaking broadcast journalist, Belva Davis, discusses the heady atmosphere in broadcast journalism in the late 1960s. She describes the interactions in the field and behind the camers. Additionally, Davis recalls interviewing pivotal figures like Malcolm X , Huey Newton and Robert Kennedy. She also discusses some of the hurdles she had to overcome as a woman in the news business. San Francisco's first black woman braodcast journalist, Belva Davis, looks back at her career with great pride. She recalls her role in the promotion of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, in particular. Davis offers advice for future black journalists, to go into the industry for love, not fame. She also shares some disappointments from her career as well.

43 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)