Belva Davis facts for kids

Belva Davis (born Belvagene Melton; October 13, 1932) was a pioneering American television and radio journalist. She made history by becoming the first African-American woman to work as a television reporter on the U.S. West Coast. Over her long career, she won eight Emmy Awards and earned special recognition for her work.

Growing up in Oakland, California, Davis started her career in 1957 by writing articles for magazines. She soon moved into radio and television reporting. As a journalist, Davis covered many of the most important events of her time, focusing on topics like civil rights, equality, and politics. She later became a news anchor and hosted her own talk show before retiring in 2012.

A Determined Start

Belvagene Melton was born on October 13, 1932, in Monroe, Louisiana, to John and Florence Melton. She was the oldest of four children. For the first few years of her life, Belva lived with different relatives.

When she was eight, her family moved to Oakland, California, hoping for a better life. They lived in a small, two-bedroom apartment in the West Oakland neighborhood with seven other relatives. In total, eleven people shared the small space. Looking back, Davis said this experience taught her how to survive and adapt to new situations.

By the late 1940s, her parents had saved enough money to buy a house in Berkeley, California. In 1951, Davis graduated from Berkeley High School. She was the first person in her family to finish high school. Although she was accepted to San Francisco State University, her family could not afford the cost. Instead, she began working as a typist at the Oakland Naval Supply Depot.

A Trailblazing Career in News

Davis's journey into journalism began in 1957. She took on a freelance assignment for Jet, a magazine that focused on African-American life and culture. This meant she was paid for each article she wrote but did not work as a full-time employee.

She also wrote for other local publications, like the Sun Reporter and the Bay Area Independent. From 1961 to 1968, she worked as an editor for the Sun Reporter.

From Radio to Television

In 1961, Davis started working as an on-air interviewer for KSAN, a radio station in San Francisco. Two years later, in 1963, she made her first television appearance on the station KTVU. She covered a local beauty pageant.

A turning point in her career came in 1964. While working as a disc jockey for the radio station KDIA, she was sent to cover the 1964 Republican National Convention. This event inspired her to become a full-time reporter.

Overcoming Challenges

As one of the first Black female journalists, Davis faced racism. While reporting at the 1964 convention, she and her colleague were treated badly by some attendees. In 1967, she was covering a Civil Rights Movement march in Forsyth County, Georgia. When she tried to interview a woman, the woman spat in her face. Davis remained professional and continued to do her job.

In 1966, she made history when she was hired by KPIX-TV, a major television station in San Francisco. This made her the first female African-American TV reporter on the West Coast.

A Respected Journalist

Davis spent the next 30 years at KPIX, becoming a news anchor in 1970. She later moved to another local station, KRON-TV. She reported on many major stories, including:

• The Free Speech Movement protests at Berkeley
• The rise of the Black Panthers
• The mass deaths at Jonestown
• The assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Harvey Milk
• The AIDS crisis in the 1980s

Davis became known for her calm and professional reporting, especially on difficult subjects like politics and race. Another reporter, Rita Williams, called her "the grande dame" because of her class and presence.

In his introduction to her 2010 autobiography, Never in My Wildest Dreams: A Black Woman's Life in Journalism, comedian Bill Cosby wrote that Davis was an important symbol for Black viewers. He said she "made us proud" and proved that the negative stereotypes of the time were wrong.

After a long and successful career, Davis retired in November 2012. For her final show on KQED, she interviewed her good friend, the famous poet Maya Angelou.

Personal Life and Community Work

Belva married Frank Davis in 1952, and they had two children. She later married Bill Moore in 1967. For most of her career, Davis kept her personal life private to focus on her work.

Davis has always been active in her community. She serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Museum of the African Diaspora and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. She once helped raise $5 million in a single year for the Museum of the African Diaspora.

Honors and Awards

Throughout her career, Belva Davis received many awards for her outstanding work in journalism.

• She won eight Emmy Awards from the San Francisco / Northern California chapter.
• She is an honorary member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
• She received lifetime achievement awards from American Women in Radio and Television and the National Association of Black Journalists.