[3] She was graduated summa cum laude from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1966 and then from Harvard Law School in 1969.

[3] She is a songwriter and playwright and hosts Faya's Fire, a weekly radio show.

[3] She worked on a number of high profile civil rights cases during her career.

[3][4] She won more than $1 billion in damages from the United States Department of Agriculture for black farmers in the case.

[3] She founded the National Voting Rights Museum, the McRae Learning Center, the Ancient Africa, Slavery and Civil War Museum, the Bridge Crossing Jubilee, the 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement, and the Black Belt Arts and Cultural Center.