Growing up in a single-parent household, lively political discussions were not a part of everyday life for Davon Thomas.
“My mother was too busy trying to pay rent every month,” Thomas said.
But as he matured in the shadow of the Capitol building in Sacramento, Thomas began to develop an affinity for politics, especially as he came to learn of the experiences of his grandmother and great uncle.
“I grew up around people who witnessed the Civil Rights movement, who marched in those marches,” he said. “The older generation of my family worked with the Black Panther party helping to distribute food to black folks and passing out lunches for young black students going to school.”
Still, it wasn’t until 2008, when Thomas witnessed the historic election of Barack Obama as the first black president of the United States, that he found his calling.
“Obama became the first black president and Kevin Johnson became the first black mayor of Sacramento,” he said. “It was a beautiful moment.”
Now, Thomas is forging his own path through the political sphere, currently serving as the vice president of External Affairs for the Student Union Assembly.
