LaDeva Davis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
LaDeva Davis
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| Born | 1944 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | (aged 78) |
| Alma mater | Philadelphia Musical Academy |
| Occupation | Cook, television presenter, teacher |
LaDeva M. Davis (1944 – September 8, 2022) was an American TV presenter and food teacher. She became famous for starring in the PBS TV show What's Cooking?. She was a pioneer, being the first African-American woman to have her own cooking show shown all over the United States on public television. In 2015, she received the Mary McLeod Bethune Award for her great work.
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Her Early Life and Education
LaDeva Davis grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She went to Germantown High School. After high school, she studied music. She earned a bachelor's degree in music education from the Philadelphia Musical Academy. This school is now known as the University of the Arts. She also learned to play the piano there.
A Career in Teaching
LaDeva Davis loved teaching. She started teaching at Bartlett Junior High in 1965. She taught there for 12 years.
Later, in 1978, she joined the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). At CAPA, she was the dance director and choreographer. She even helped create the dance lessons for the school. She also helped organize "CAPA Kids," a special show for Philadelphia's yearly Thanksgiving Day Parade. Some of her students at CAPA became famous, like the members of the music group Boyz II Men.
What's Cooking? TV Show
LaDeva Davis became a TV star on the show What's Cooking?. This show first aired on January 21, 1975. Even though she wasn't a professional chef, she was chosen for the show because she was charming and funny.
What's Cooking? taught people how to make healthy and affordable meals. Most meals cost less than $2.25 to make. LaDeva Davis made history as the first African-American woman to host her own cooking show on national public TV. She once said, "There was no black woman cooking [on TV]. There were no black cooks period."
In 1976, she was a special guest on The Mike Douglas Show, a popular talk show. She showed off her cooking skills there. Her work was even featured in the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution. Some of her cooking aprons are now kept in the Smithsonian collections.
Awards and Special Recognition
In 2015, LaDeva Davis received a special award. The National Council of Negro Women gave her the Mary McLeod Bethune Award. This award recognized her leadership and achievements in education.
Her Passing
LaDeva Davis passed away on September 8, 2022. She was 78 years old.
