Angela Bowen
Angela Bowen | |
---|---|
Born | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | February 6, 1936
Died | July 12, 2018 Long Beach, California, U.S. | (aged 82)
Alma mater | University of Massachusetts Boston Clark University |
Occupation | Professor, activist, writer |
Employer | California State University, Long Beach |
Spouse(s) | Ken Peters Jennifer Lynn Abod |
Children | 3 |
Angela Bowen (February 6, 1936 – July 12, 2018) was an American dance teacher, English professor, writer, and a lesbian rights activist. She was also the subject of an award winning 2016 documentary.
Early life[]
Bowen was born on February 6, 1936 in Boston, Massachusetts in an African-American family.[1][2] She was the sixth of seven children. [3] She lost her father at the age of 2.[2] Bowen trained and taught at the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts in Roxbury from age 14 to 22.[1][4]
Bowen graduated in 1992 from the College of Public and Community Service at University of Massachusetts Boston, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Human Services.[1][5][6] She earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. from Clark University, where she wrote the first dissertation about Audre Lorde: "Who Said it was Simple: Audre Lorde’s Complex Connections to Three U.S. Liberation Movements, 1952-1992”[1][4] The final chapter, "All These Liberations", is included in The Wind is Spirit: The Life, Love, and Legacy of Audre Lorde, a Lambda Literary Award winning bio/anthology by Gloria Joseph.[4] Bowen's doctorate was one of the first Ph.D.'s granted in Women's Studies in the United States.[4]
Career[]
Bowen co-founded the Bowen/Peters School of Dance with her then husband, drummer Ken Peters in New Haven, Connecticut in 1963. [7] The school closed down in 1982.[2] After the school's closure, Bowen and Peters divorced and she came out as a lesbian.[7] Bowen became a gay rights activist and served on the board of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays.[1][2] She eventually became the co-chair of the organization and served as the editor of the group's magazine. [5] Bowen appeared on a number of television and radio programs, including WBZ-TV and BET to speak about gay rights and feminism. [4]
After receiving her doctorate from Clark in 1997, Bowen became a professor of English and Women's Studies at California State University, Long Beach.[2] [5] She was the first Black woman to join the staff of the Women's Studies department at CSULB in the program's thirty year history. [3] She remained involved with activism while she taught and was the keynote speaker at CSULB's first Lavender Graduation ceremony. [3]
Bowen was the subject of the 2016 documentary, The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen,[2] by her partner Jennifer Abod and Mary Duprey.[8] which won Best Documentary in the "Women's History U.S." category at the 2017 To the Contrary About Women and Girls film festival.[9]
In addition to being subject of books and documentaries, Bowen was an accomplished writer in her life. In addition to her academic writings, she was also a contributor to Gay Community News.[5] In 2017, Bowen was honored for her work and activism by the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice with their Acey Social Justice Feminist Award.[4] The award is given to lesbian, queer or trans people over the age of sixty-two in recognition for their activism and contributions to their respective communities.[10]
Personal life and death[]
Bowen first married Ken Peters in the 1960s; they had three children.[1][2] They divorced in the 1980s, when she came out as a lesbian.[2] Bowen met Jennifer Abod at a Take Back the Night rally in New Haven in 1979.[4] They married in 2013.[1] She suffered from Alzheimer's disease.[2]
Bowen died on July 12, 2018 in Long Beach, California, at 82.[1][2]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Genzlinger, Neil (July 22, 2018). "Angela Bowen, Dance Teacher and Gay Activist, Is Dead at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Broverman, Neal (July 22, 2018). "Dancer, Professor, Queer Activist Angela Bowen Dead at 82". The Advocate. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen". TRIVIA: Voices of Feminism. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Angela Bowen". Astraea Lesbian Foundation For Justice. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Los Angeles Blade. "Dr. Angela Bowen, black lesbian feminist scholar and artist, dead at 82", 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ "The University of Massachusetts at Boston: Commencement Program, 1992". Digital Collections, Joseph P. Healey Library. University of Massachusetts Boston. 1992. p. 23. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Communicator of the Month: Angela Bowen — LGBTQ Leader". www.vancomm.com. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ^ "The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen | Carolina Theatre - Downtown Durham, North Carolina". www.carolinatheatre.org. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
- ^ "TTC Film Festival Winner The Passionate Pursuits Of Angela Bowen Wins Clarion Award". PBS. July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ "Acey Social Justice Feminist Award". Astraea Lesbian Foundation For Justice. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- 1936 births
- 2018 deaths
- University of Massachusetts Boston alumni
- Clark University alumni
- California State University, Long Beach faculty
- LGBT rights activists from the United States
- African-American academics
- Lesbian academics
- LGBT African Americans
- LGBT people from Massachusetts
- People with Alzheimer's disease
- LGBT rights activist stubs