Belva Davis facts for kids

Belva Davis (born October 13, 1932, died September 24, 2025) was an important American journalist. She worked in both television and radio. Belva made history as the first African-American woman to become a TV reporter on the West Coast of the United States.

She won eight Emmy Awards for her excellent work. She also received many honors from groups like the American Women in Radio and Television and the National Association of Black Journalists. After growing up in Oakland, California, Belva started writing for magazines in 1957. Soon after, she began reporting on radio and TV. As a reporter, Belva covered many big news stories of her time. These included important issues about fairness, equality, and government. She became a news anchor and hosted her own talk show before she retired in 2012.

Early Life and Growing Up

Belvagene Melton was born on October 13, 1932, in Monroe, Louisiana. Her parents were John and Florence Melton. She was the oldest of four children. Her mother was 14 years old when Belva was born. Belva spent her early years living with different relatives.

When she was eight years old, Belva and her family moved to West Oakland in Oakland, California. Many family members, including aunts and cousins, lived together in a small two-bedroom apartment. Belva later shared that these experiences taught her to be strong and adaptable. She learned to make the best of any situation.

By the late 1940s, her parents could afford a house in Berkeley, California. Belva graduated from Berkeley High School in 1951. She was the first person in her family to finish high school. She was accepted into San Francisco State University but could not afford to go. Instead, she worked as a typist at the Oakland Naval Supply Depot.

A Career in Journalism

Starting as a Writer

In 1957, Belva took on a writing job for Jet magazine. This magazine focused on African-American issues. She became a reporter who sent in stories for the publication. She earned a small amount for each story, and her name was not always printed.

Over the next few years, she wrote for other African-American newspapers. These included the Sun Reporter and Bay Area Independent. Belva edited the Sun Reporter from 1961 to 1968.

Breaking Barriers in Broadcast

In 1961, Belva became an interviewer for KSAN. This was a San Francisco radio station that played rhythm and blues music. It aimed to reach African-American listeners in the Bay Area. She made her first TV appearance in 1963 for KTVU. This Oakland-based station had her cover an African-American beauty pageant.

Belva was working as a radio host for KDIA when a big political meeting in 1964 inspired her. She decided she wanted to become a full-time reporter. During this time, she and a colleague faced unfair treatment and prejudice from some attendees. Later, while reporting on the Civil Rights Movement, she again faced unfair treatment.

In 1966, Belva worked as an announcer for KNEW radio in Oakland. That same year, she made history. She became the first African-American woman to be a television journalist on the West Coast. This happened when she was hired by KPIX-TV, a CBS station in San Francisco.

Important Stories and Recognition

Belva spent the next three decades working for KPIX. She became a news anchor in 1970. A few years later, she moved to KRON-TV, a local NBC station. She covered many important stories. These included student protests, the Black Panthers, and major international events like the 1998 United States embassy bombing in Tanzania.

Belva was highly respected for her reporting on politics and issues of fairness and equality. She was known for her calm and professional manner. Rita Williams, another reporter, praised Belva for her calm and classy way of handling things. She said Belva was always a respected leader.

Her autobiography, Never in My Wildest Dreams: A Black Woman's Life in Journalism, was published in 2010. In the book, a famous comedian wrote that Belva was a symbol of pride for African-American viewers. She showed that negative stereotypes were wrong.

Belva hosted "This Week in Northern California" on PBS station KQED. She started this show in the 1990s. She retired in November 2012. Her final broadcast included an interview with her friend, Maya Angelou. Belva wanted her last show to celebrate friendship.

Life Beyond the News

Belva married Frank Davis on January 1, 1952. They had two children and a granddaughter. She later married Bill Moore in 1967. She met him while they both worked at KPIX-TV. They lived in San Francisco and later lived in Petaluma, California.

Belva was a private person. She kept her personal life separate from her work as a journalist for most of her career. In 1975, she allowed Kathleen H. Arnold to create a special program about her life. Belva mentored Kathleen for many years.

Belva also served on the boards of important organizations. These included the Museum of the African Diaspora, the Institute on Aging, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. She helped raise a lot of money for the Museum of the African Diaspora.

Belva Davis passed away on September 24, 2025, at the age of 92 after a long illness.

Awards and Achievements

Belva won eight Emmy Awards from her local region. She was an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, a respected sorority. She also received lifetime achievement awards from the American Women in Radio and Television and the National Association of Black Journalists. These awards recognized her long and important career.