What were the full birth and death dates and locations for Mike Davis?

Michael Ryan Davis was born on March 10, 1946, in Fontana, California, U.S., and passed away on October 25, 2022, in San Diego, California, U.S., at the age of 76.

Who were Mike Davis's parents, and what were their backgrounds?

Mike Davis's parents were Dwight and Mary (Ryan) Davis. Dwight was of Welsh and Protestant heritage, a trade-union Democrat, and an "anti-racist," whose ancestors were abolitionists and Union soldiers. Mary was Irish Catholic, the daughter of Jack Ryan, who served in the Spanish-American War.

Where was Mike Davis raised, and what characterized his childhood neighborhood?

Mike Davis was raised in Bostonia, San Diego County, California. His childhood neighborhood was nearly all-white, populated by refugees of the Great Depression, predominantly Southern Baptist families from Oklahoma and Texas, and featured a country-western ballroom and rodeo. Davis identified with this community as a "redneck" and "Westerner."

What significant childhood experience in Ocotillo Wells influenced Davis's later views?

During a trip to the Ocotillo Wells gas station with his father, a young Mike Davis saw photos of executed Mexican men posted on a bulletin board. The proprietor explained they were victims of border executions, an experience that haunted Davis and influenced his ideas on the border throughout his life.

How did Sputnik influence young Mike Davis?

After renouncing religion at age 10 due to conflicts with his fundamentalist neighbors, Mike Davis gravitated towards science with the advent of Sputnik, the first artificial Earth satellite. This marked a shift in his intellectual focus.

What early experiences contributed to Davis's disillusionment with patriotism and the United States?

Davis's patriotic phase was eroded by witnessing the aftermath of the Pendergast murders at age 12 and experiencing domestic violence in his community. His views were further challenged by reading John Hersey's *Hiroshima*, which questioned his previous notions of patriotism and the U.S.

What personal hardship led Mike Davis to leave school and work?

At age 16, Mike Davis's father suffered a severe heart attack, which destabilized the family's financial security. To support his family, Davis had to leave school and work as a delivery truck driver for his uncle's wholesale meat company.

Who was Lee Gregovich, and what role did he play in Davis's political awakening?

Lee Gregovich was an older communist and member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) who had been blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). He met Davis while working as a cook and regularly urged Davis to "read Marx," serving as an early political influence.

What event did Mike Davis describe as his "burning bush moment"?

Mike Davis described a 1962 demonstration organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) at a Bank of America in San Diego as his "burning bush moment." During the protest, demonstrators were doused with lighter fluid and threatened by sailors before being rescued by members of the Nation of Islam.

What was Mike Davis's academic path after high school?

After graduating as a valedictorian from El Cajon Valley High School and earning a scholarship to Reed College, Davis was expelled. He later returned to college at age 28, studying economics and history at UCLA, where he earned his BA and MA degrees but did not complete a PhD.

What was Mike Davis's involvement with the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)?

Davis joined the national office of SDS in New York City in November 1964. He worked there in 1964-1965, helping to organize major demonstrations like an Anti-Apartheid sit-in at Chase Manhattan Bank and the first march on Washington against the Vietnam War.

What was the significance of the Chase Manhattan Bank sit-in in 1965?

The sit-in at Chase Manhattan Bank on March 19, 1965, was SDS's first act of civil disobedience. It was organized in response to the bank's role in bailing out the Apartheid government of South Africa after the Sharpeville massacre.

How did Mike Davis's activism evolve after returning to California in 1965?

Upon returning to California, Davis became involved with the Vietnam Day Committee and organized protests against the Vietnam War and U.S. intervention in the Dominican Republic, including burning his draft card. He also organized against freeway construction and worked with Levi Kingston on draft resistance in Los Angeles.

Who was Levi Kingston, and what was his relationship with Mike Davis?

Levi Kingston was a former jazz bassist and Merchant Marine who became a radical activist. He befriended Davis in Los Angeles, working together on draft resistance. Davis considered Kingston his "big brother" and dedicated his last book, *Set the Night on Fire*, to him.

What was Mike Davis's experience debating Kirk Douglas on television?

In 1966, a 19-year-old Mike Davis debated actor Kirk Douglas on Melvin Belli's talk show. A newspaper article described Davis as more articulate than Douglas, and Davis recalled challenging Douglas on his role as an anti-war film star and a goodwill ambassador for the Johnson administration.

What political organizations was Mike Davis affiliated with during his activist years?

During his activist years, Mike Davis was affiliated with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and later joined the Communist Party USA in solidarity with their stance against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.

What major academic and literary honors did Mike Davis receive?

Mike Davis received several significant honors, including a Getty Scholar award (1996-1997), a MacArthur Fellowship Award (1998), the Deutscher Memorial Prize (1991) for *City of Quartz*, the World History Association Book Prize (2002) for *Late Victorian Holocausts*, and the Lannan Literary Award for Nonfiction (2007).

What were Mike Davis's primary academic affiliations and roles?

Mike Davis was a Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside. He also served as an editor for *New Left Review*, taught urban theory at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and Stony Brook University, and contributed to *Socialist Review*.

How did Mike Davis define his political and environmental stance?

Mike Davis self-defined as an international socialist and a "Marxist-Environmentalist," indicating a synthesis of socialist political thought with a focus on ecological issues.

What are some of Mike Davis's most well-known nonfiction books?

Some of Mike Davis's most recognized nonfiction works include *City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles*, *Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster*, *Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World*, *Planet of Slums*, and *Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties*.

What was the subject of Mike Davis's book *Late Victorian Holocausts*?

*Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World* examined the devastating impact of El Niño-induced famines during the late Victorian era and how these events contributed to the formation of the "Third World."

What is *City of Quartz* about, and what award did it receive?

*City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles* investigates power dynamics and social class within Los Angeles, exploring its urban development and potential futures. This book earned Mike Davis the Deutscher Memorial Prize in 1991.

What was the focus of Mike Davis's book *Planet of Slums*?

*Planet of Slums* analyzed the rapid growth of informal settlements and the challenges faced by the urban poor globally, highlighting issues of urban involution and the informal working class.

What was the subject of Mike Davis's book *Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties*?

Co-authored with Jon Wiener, *Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties* provides a detailed account of the cultural, political, and social movements that defined Los Angeles during the 1960s, including the counterculture, civil rights, and anti-war activism.

What was Mike Davis's final published book?

Mike Davis's final published book was *The Monster Enters: COVID-19, Avian Flu, and the Plagues of Capitalism*, released in February 2022, which examined the intersection of pandemics and capitalist systems.

What academic fields did Mike Davis contribute to?

Mike Davis made significant contributions to fields such as urban geography, critical geography, Marxism, labor history, political violence, economic history, and environmental studies.

What was the nature of the criticism from academic leftists regarding Davis's work?

Some academic leftists criticized Davis's focus on modern urban structures, finding his analyses "overly apocalyptic" and arguing that he did not sufficiently highlight the agency of activist groups among the poor and working class in solving societal problems.

What did Mike Davis mean by being a "Marxist-Environmentalist"?

By identifying as a "Marxist-Environmentalist," Mike Davis indicated a belief system that combined Marxist analysis of societal structures and economics with a strong concern for environmental issues and ecological sustainability.

What were the two fiction books authored by Mike Davis?

Mike Davis authored two fiction books for young adults: *Land of the Lost Mammoths* and *Pirates, Bats, and Dragons*.

What role did Davis's father's amateur geology play in his life?

Mike Davis's father, an amateur geologist, often took him on excursions into the Colorado Desert. These trips involved searching for uranium deposits, abandoned mines, geodes, and petrified wood, exposing young Mike to the desert landscape and its history.

How did Davis's experience with Gordon Neumann impact him?

Davis had a difficult encounter with a childhood bully named Gordon Neumann, who later committed multiple violent acts. This experience, along with witnessing domestic violence, contributed to Davis's disillusionment with his suburban environment.

What was Davis's stance on Marxism during his early activist years?

In his early activist years, Davis was initially wary of Marxism, even as friends became Marxists. He explored alternative political ideas, such as reviving the Populist Party, before fully embracing Marxist thought.

What was the significance of the "Days of Rage" event for Davis's affiliation with SDS?

Mike Davis left the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) after the 1969 "Days of Rage" event, reflecting a period of ambivalence about the movement's achievements.

What publications did Mike Davis frequently contribute to as a journalist and essayist?

As a journalist and essayist, Mike Davis frequently contributed to well-known publications such as *The Nation*, *New Left Review*, *Jacobin*, and the UK's *New Statesman*.

What was the subject of Mike Davis's book *The Monster at Our Door*?

*The Monster at Our Door* (2005) focused on the global threat posed by avian flu, examining its potential impact and the societal responses to such pandemics.

What criticism did Cindi Katz level against *City of Quartz*?

Cindi Katz criticized *City of Quartz* for its "apocalypticism," suggesting it was "masculinist" and contributed to flattening people's subjectivity by portraying them as mere "characters" rather than active social agents.

What was the nature of the controversy involving a fabricated conversation in an *L.A. Weekly* article?

Todd Purdum reported that Mike Davis acknowledged fabricating a conversation for an *L.A. Weekly* article. Davis defended this as an early attempt at journalistic scene-setting, while others viewed it as a blurring of lines between research and reportage.

What did Jon Wiener argue in defense of Mike Davis against his critics?

Jon Wiener defended Mike Davis in *The Nation*, asserting that his critics were political opponents who were exaggerating the significance of minor errors in Davis's work.

What was Mike Davis's perspective on his own writing style and the reception of his work?

Reviewers generally praised Davis's prose style and his exposés of injustice. However, some academic critics found his work "overly apocalyptic" and "anti-urban," while others defended his approach as a necessary balance of research and reportage.

What was the subject of the book *Buda's Wagon*?

*Buda's Wagon* is a book by Mike Davis that provides a brief history of the car bomb, exploring its development and use as a weapon.

What was the focus of Mike Davis's book *No One Is Illegal*?

Co-authored with Justin Akers Chacon, *No One Is Illegal* addresses issues of racism and state violence, particularly concerning the U.S.-Mexico border.

What did Mike Davis say about his illness in an interview with the *Los Angeles Times*?

In an interview with the *Los Angeles Times*, Mike Davis stated he was in the terminal stage of metastatic esophageal cancer and expressed significant anger about his condition, wishing he had died in a more active struggle.

What was the context of Mike Davis joining the Communist Party USA?

Mike Davis joined the Communist Party USA in late 1967 and 1968, specifically in solidarity with their opposition to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.

What was Mike Davis's relationship with his father's work as an amateur geologist?

Mike Davis's father, an amateur geologist, often took him on excursions into the Colorado Desert. These trips involved searching for uranium deposits, abandoned mines, geodes, and petrified wood, exposing young Mike to the desert landscape and its history.

What is the primary focus of Mike Davis's work as a writer and activist?

Mike Davis was primarily known for his investigations into power and social class, examining urban geography, environmental issues, and the impacts of capitalism and political systems.

Which of Mike Davis's books won the World History Association Book Prize?

Mike Davis's book *Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World* received the World History Association Book Prize in 2002.

What was the nature of Davis's early political activism in the 1960s?

In the 1960s, Davis was actively involved in the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), participating in protests against issues like apartheid, the Vietnam War, and social injustice.

What academic recognition did Mike Davis receive in 1998?

In 1998, Mike Davis was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, a prestigious grant often referred to as a "genius grant," recognizing his significant contributions and potential.

What did Mike Davis teach at the University of California, Riverside?

Mike Davis held the position of Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside.

What was the subject of Davis's book *Ecology of Fear*?

*Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster* explored how fear, particularly related to environmental and social disasters, shaped the imagination and reality of Los Angeles.

What was the significance of Davis's early exposure to *Hiroshima* by John Hersey?

Reading John Hersey's *Hiroshima* profoundly challenged Mike Davis's existing ideas about patriotism and the United States, marking a turning point in his political and social consciousness.

Mike Davis Scholar Wiki: Mike Davis: Chronicler of Urban Realities and Social Fault Lines

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Biography

Early Life

Born Michael Ryan Davis on March 10, 1946, in Fontana, California. Raised in Bostonia, San Diego County. His parents, Dwight and Mary Davis, were working-class migrants who instilled values of anti-racism and unionism. Early experiences in the desert with his geologist father and encounters with violence and social inequality profoundly shaped his worldview.

Activism & Education

Davis's youth was marked by rebellion, but a pivotal moment at a CORE demonstration shifted his focus. He became involved with Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), burning his draft card in protest of the Vietnam War. After periods of activism and varied work, he returned to education, earning degrees from UCLA, though he did not complete his PhD.

Intellectual Formation

Influenced by figures like Herbert Marcuse and the broader radical movements of the 1960s, Davis developed a critical lens on American society. His working-class background and experiences with social movements informed his Marxist analysis, focusing on power structures, class conflict, and urban development.

Career

Academia

Davis held distinguished positions at several universities, including the University of California, Riverside (Creative Writing), the Southern California Institute of Architecture (Urban Theory), and Stony Brook University. He also taught at the University of California, Irvine.

Writing & Journalism

A prolific writer, Davis contributed essays and articles to numerous publications, including The Nation, New Left Review, Jacobin, and New Statesman. He served as an editor for New Left Review and was known for his sharp, often critical, analysis of contemporary social and political issues.

Recognition

His significant contributions were recognized with prestigious awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 1998 and the Lannan Literary Award for Nonfiction in 2007. He was also a Getty Scholar.

Key Works

Urban Studies

Davis is renowned for his deep dives into urban environments and social structures. Landmark works include:

City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles (1990)
Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster (1998)
Planet of Slums (2006)

Global & Historical Analysis

His research extended to global historical patterns and their impact on contemporary society:

Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World (2001)
The Monster at Our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu (2005)
Old Gods, New Enigmas: Marx's Lost Theory (2018)

Social & Political Commentary

Davis also explored American working-class history, political movements, and recent events:

Prisoners of the American Dream (1986)
Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties (co-authored, 2020)
The Monster Enters: COVID-19, Avian Flu, and the Plagues of Capitalism (2022)

He also authored young adult fiction, including Land of the Lost Mammoths (2003).

Awards & Honors

Major Accolades

Deutscher Memorial Prize (1991) for City of Quartz
Getty Scholar (1996–1997)
MacArthur Fellowship (1998)
World History Association Book Prize (2002) for Late Victorian Holocausts
Lannan Literary Award for Nonfiction (2007)

Criticism & Reception

Academic Debate

Davis's work, while widely praised for its prose and critical insights into injustice, also faced criticism. Some academics, like Cindi Katz and Tom Angotti, critiqued his analyses as overly "apocalyptic" or "anti-urban." A controversy arose regarding fabricated dialogue in an early journalistic piece, which Davis defended as artistic license for scene-setting.

Critics like Cindi Katz found his portrayal of urbanism "masculinist" and apocalyptic. Tom Angotti and others labeled his work "anti-urban" and excessively pessimistic, suggesting a lack of focus on grassroots activism as a solution. Jon Wiener defended Davis, attributing criticisms to political opposition exaggerating minor errors.

Personal Life & Death

Family

Davis was married five times, with his final marriage being to artist and professor Alessandra Moctezuma. He had four children from previous marriages and two with Moctezuma. They resided in San Diego, California.

Final Years

Diagnosed with metastatic esophageal cancer in 2020, Davis remained intellectually active. In his final months, he expressed frustration and anger about his illness but continued to reflect on his life's work and the state of the world. He passed away on October 25, 2022, at the age of 76.

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References

Annexed to El Cajon in 1953.[6]

"South Bostonia Votes to Annex to El Cajon," Weekly Times-Advocate, Escondido, May 29, 1953, image 4

House Committee On Un-American Activities 1954, p. 4909.

Committee on Un-American Activities in California 1943, p. 59.

A full list of references for this article are available at the Mike Davis (scholar) Wikipedia page

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This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on publicly available data and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional academic, journalistic, or critical analysis consultation. Always refer to primary sources and consult with qualified professionals for specific needs. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.

Mike Davis

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Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Biography

Early Life

Activism & Education

Intellectual Formation

Career

Academia

Writing & Journalism

Recognition

Key Works

Urban Studies

Global & Historical Analysis

Social & Political Commentary

Awards & Honors

Major Accolades

Criticism & Reception

Academic Debate

Personal Life & Death

Family

Final Years

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice