Letters from Tomis

My Socialist Hall of Fame

During this chaotic era of vile rhetoric and manipulative tactics from our so-called bourgeois leaders, I am invigorated by the opportunity to reflect on Socialists, Revolutionaries, Philosophers, Guerrilla Leaders, Partisans, and Critical Theory titans, champions, and martyrs who paved the way for us—my own audacious “Socialism’s Hall of Fame.” These are my heroes and fore-bearers. Not all are perfect, or even fully admirable, but all contributed in some way to our future–either as icons to emulate, or as warnings to avoid in the future.

Benjamin Jefferson Davis Jr. (1903–1964) was a prominent African American lawyer, Communist activist, and New York City Council member. His life exemplifies the dynamics of race, politics, and left-wing ideology in mid‑20th‑century America.

Academic & Legal Foundations

Early Life & Education

Born in Dawson, Georgia, on September 8, 1903, Davis moved with his family to Atlanta in 1909. His father, Benjamin Davis Sr., was a successful Black Republican newspaper publisher and politician.

After attending Morehouse’s high school program, Davis earned his B.A. from Amherst College in 1925, followed by an LLB from Harvard Law School in 1929.

Legal Practice & Radicalization

Davis began practicing law in Atlanta in 1932. His defense of young Black labor organizer Angelo Herndon, who faced insurrection charges under Jim Crow-era statutes, was pivotal. This case both elevated Davis’s prominence and led him to embrace Communist ideal.

Political Career & Activism

Communist Party & Editorial Roles

In 1935, Davis relocated to Harlem. He joined the Communist Party USA, edited The Negro Liberator and later The Daily Worker, and emerged as a leading intellectual advocate for Black liberation within the Party.

City Council Tenure (1943–1949)

Elected in 1943, Davis served as a Communist representative on the NYC Council, focusing on housing, police brutality, and educational equality. His success made him the only openly Communist African American to hold U.S. elected office.

Smith Act Trial & Imprisonment

Red Scare Prosecution

In 1949, amidst Cold War anxieties, Davis was charged under the Smith Act for his Communist ties. He was convicted in 1951, expelled from the Council, and imprisoned for over three years at Terre Haute Federal Penitentiary.

Continued Advocacy in Confinement

Even in prison, Davis challenged racial segregation policies and refused to name Communist affiliates, resulting in extended penalties.

Later Career & Legacy

Post‑Custodial Work

After his 1955 release, Davis rejoined Party leadership. He was elected to the CPUSA National Committee in 1959 and appointed National Secretary, advocating for anti-racist socialist politics.

Autobiography & Intellectual Contributions

While incarcerated, he penned Communist Councilman from Harlem, a political autobiography published in 1960 that details his ideological journey and activism.

Final Years

Davis remained an active Party leader until his death on August 22, 1964, in New York City. At the time, he was under indictment for refusing to register under the McCarran Act.

Significance in Scholarship

Davis’s life stands at the intersection of mid-century civil rights, socialist ideology, and urban politics. His legal defense of Angelo Herndon helped challenge Jim Crow laws and inspired his Communist alignment. His election to the NYC Council illustrates the left’s appeal during the Popular Front era. His imprisonment underscores the tensions of the McCarthy years. His writings provide rich primary sources on race, socialism, and political repression.

Through legal practice, journalism, political office, and enduring intellectual work, Benjamin J. Davis Jr. made lasting contributions to African American history, leftist political thought, and the struggle for democratic equality in the United States.

Selected Bibliography

Primary Writings by Davis

1. The Communist Councilman from Harlem (International Publishers, 1960) – Autobiography and political reflections.

2. In Defense of Negro Rights – Compilation of Davis’s courtroom testimony during the Smith Act trials.

Biographies & Scholarly Works

1. Gerald Horne, Black Liberation/Red Scare: Ben Davis and the Communist Party(Univ. of Delaware Press, 1994) – A comprehensive study of Davis’s political impact.  

2. Michael N. Searles, “Benjamin Davis Jr. (1903–1964),” in BlackPast.org, 2007 – Concise biographical sketch.  

Archival Holdings

• Benjamin J. Davis Papers (NYPL Archives) – Contains correspondence, Smith Act trial documentation, and personal writings, spanning 1949–1964.  

• FBI Files on Davis – Digitized collection compiled by Gerald Horne detailing surveillance and FBI investigations.  

Critical Essays & Articles

• “Benjamin J. Davis: The Communist Councilman from Harlem” – CPUSA article assessing Davis’s role and legacy.

• “Remembering Harold Wade Jr. and Benjamin J. Davis Jr.” (People’s World) – Emphasizes Davis’s pioneering status in electoral politics and civil rights.