Men of Distinction: Mawuli Mel Davis

Mawuli Mel Davis is a founding partner of the Davis Bozeman Law Firm where he leads the firm’s Civil Rights Division.

Davis attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he played varsity basketball and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. He served in the United States Navy as an officer for nearly 10 years and earned a master’s degree in public administration from Bowie State University while on active duty in Rota, Spain. He graduated from Georgia State University College of Law, where he was awarded the Eleanor Norton Holmes/Thurgood Marshall Award for his outstanding contribution as a law student. He is also the recipient of the Georgia State University Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Torch of Peace, was named the Civil Rights Attorney of the Year by the Gate City Bar Association, the Advocate of the Year by the ACLU of Georgia, Civil Rights Legal Champion by the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, and was inaugural recipient of the Southern Center for Human Rights’ Luminary Award.

Davis has been involved in the representation of public figures, entertainers, athletes, and his organizing efforts have included working with gang members in Chicago as well as participating in the United Nations World Conference Against Racism in South Africa. He recently served as an international legal observer for the Haitian Presidential Elections. Along with his wife, educator and activist, Jana Johnson-Davis, he also developed “If You Can See, it You Can Be It”, an engaging teaching module for attorneys to introduce the legal profession to middle school students.  As an activist, Davis is a co-founder of Let Us Make Man, and was awarded Father of the Year in by Jack & Jill Inc. of Atlanta, Social Innovator Award by Sistas Inspiring Sistas, and Father of Distinction by the Concerned Black Clergy. He is past president of the DeKalb Lawyers Association and the “Mawuli Davis Legal Warrior Award” was named in his honor by DLA which is awarded to attorneys who have demonstrated courage and tenacity in their legal representation. He was recently, elected president of the newly formed Beacon Hill Branch of the NAACP and is a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and the DeKalb Chapter of the 100 Black Men of America.