Ruby Dee Davis was much more than just an actress. Of course we can’t overlook her extensive entertainment catalog which consists of over 50 movies, and nearly 100 television and stage productions combined, including A Raisin in the Sun, with Sidney Poitier in 1959, American Gangster in 2007, and most recently Lifetime’s “Betty and Coretta” film in 2013. In the midst of her entertainment career and being a breast cancer survivor for over three decades, Davis was widely known for her activism in Civil Rights.
Ruby and her late husband Ossie Davis were friends and supporters of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X, the Black Panthers, and other civil movements. Ms. Dee and Mr. Davis were the M.C.’s of the entertainment event at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Dr. King spoke his historical “I Have a Dream” speech. Dee inspired and continues to inspire generations of black entertainers, entrepreneurs, and others looking to make a difference in our community. Take a look at a few quotes and photos celebrating the life of Ruby Dee on Instagram.
