Artist History Dr. Malika Odessa Davis was born in the Southern State Of Mississippi, the granddaughter of God-centered, successful farmers. She began writing at the age of eight years old. She not only wrote songs and poems, but essays, short stories, and her own speeches all through high school. She is also an actress, singer, public speaker, counselor/consultant and minister. She was certified in the state of Pennsylvania in1973 and was later ordained by a local Detroit Clergyman. She is co-founder and director of The Society Of African American Poets Association Of Detroit (SOAPAD). Dr. Davis has always believed in the power of the vote and was a delegate to The National Black Political Convention in Gary Indiana in 1973. She is currently a precinct delegate in the 8th Precinct (in Detroit, Michigan). She has published one book Growth Of A Serious Black Woman and several cassette albums; The Sounds Of A Southern Siren and The Future Is Now!. She is spearhead of the Cultural Arts For Africa program, which solicits money and goods to be shipped to much- needed African Mission Schools in Ghana. She has a Degree in Early Childhood Development and is currently teaching at The Martyrs Of Uganda Catholic Academy. She has performed professionally at the world famous Apollo, Club Baby Grand, Rockerfeller Plaza, and Poetential Unlimited and at the Harlem Week festival (all in New York City). In the Michigan area, she has performed at the cultural institutions, such as The Museum of African American History, the Detroit Institute of the Arts, Wayne State University, Lewis College of Business, C.O.T.S. on Wyoming, Fellowship Chapel, Messiah Baptist Church, Holy Redeemer in Canada, The Detroit Ethnic Festival, Central High School and numerous other schools, churches, youth homes and institutions. Ms. Davis has performed at the Kern Block and The Penobscot Building respectively in 1997 and 1999 for The Peace Run International. Ms. Davis also performed at the Press Conference held at Kennedy Square Friday, April 28, 2000, where she rendered a rendition of her "Tribute To The Million Mom March." Ms. Davis feels strongly about the prevention of the killing of anyone, especially our children. For this reason, she traveled to Washington, D.C. and marched on Mother's Day to send a message to Congress to curb these deaths by rest ricting the sale of handguns and stopping the illegal flow of guns into our neighborhoods that lands in the hands of criminals, who use them on law-abiding citizens, to rob, murder and maim. She believes strongly in the saintity and quality of life. She plans to continue to lobby for gun control and tighter gun legislation.She is available for poetry readings, workshops, public speaking, as well as grant-writing collaboration. Ms. Davis is given credit for the recent resurgence of poetry's popularity in the metropolitan Detroit area.

Press Reviews Her Million Mom March poem was featured (and excerpted) in The Detroit Free Press.

Location Detroit, Michigan - USA

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