Ella Baker: Her Role and Impact in the Civil Rights Movement Era

This essay delves into the life and activism of Ella Baker, an influential figure in the African American Civil Rights Movement during the Jim Crow Era. Inspired by her grandmother's experiences with slavery, Baker dedicated her life to challenging unfair policies and fighting for social justice. The essay highlights her involvement in key organizations such as the NAACP, SNCC, and SCLC, emphasizing her role in empowering individuals and fostering collective action. Baker's commitment to raising political consciousness and her belief in the power of group action are central themes, illustrating her profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement. The essay concludes with a personal interpretation of Baker's quote on inner power, underscoring her enduring legacy as a champion of human rights.

an African American civil rights
pioneer
Student Details:
ELLA BAKER

 The famous Civil Rights Pioneer: Ella Josephine Baker
was born on 13th December, 1903 and died on 13th
December, 1986.
 She was inspired by her grandmother as her
grandmother was harassed by her slave owner for forced
marriage with a chosen person by her owner.
 Thus, since her young age she used to act as an activist
who challenged the unfair policies
 Ella Baker was graduated from Shaw University as class
valedictorian in during the year 1927 (Crowther, 2014).
BACKGROUND

 Ms Baker helped persons who were struggling in order
to survive through joining political group.
 Ella Baker created a group called as “Young Negros
Cooperative League” during the Great Depression.
 Ms Baker did huge charitable work for the community at
the time of Great Depression.
 Ella baker got married to T.J. Roberts in 1930s who was
also a strong activist and political minded personality
(Scelfo, 2017).
IMPORTANT LIFE EVENTS

 Ms Baker dropped out of school during the age of 12
 During the age of 15, Baker’s street dancing got
attention and she got recruited for the St. Louis Chorus
Vaudeville event.
 Soon post her marriage Ms Baker joined the NAAPC
( National Association for the Advancement of Coloured
People) (Crowther, 2014).
 Ms Baker could not stay long with NAAPC due to
brutality of community.
CHALLENGES

 Ms Baker got interest into Civil Rights as she got
inspired by Rosa Parks bravery during the Great Bus
Boycatt in Alabama.
 Soon after that, Ms Baker started contributing to help
fund money for the South's civil rights movement.
 Ms Baker worked with many of the major Negroe and
Civil Rights groups and without her contribution, the
Civil Rights movement would have been all different as
well as insignificant (Scelfo, 2017).
ACTIVISM

I have picked Ella Baker for my Sociology Research for the
following reasons:
 Being an activist, Ms Baker put her inherited skills to work and
bringing people together for bringing revolution into the
community throughout her life and career.
 Ms Baker spent half a century for raising the political
consciousness of the Americans (Crowther, 2014).
 Ms Baker played a chief role in 3 of the 20th century’s top
influential civil rights groups:
 National Association or the Advancement of Coloured People
(NAACP)
 Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
 Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
MY INTERPRETATION

“The Major job was getting people to understand that they had
something within their power that they could use, and it could
only be used if they understood what was happening and hoe
group action could counter violence.”- Ella Baker
To me, the above quote of Ms Baker is explaining the inner
supreme power of the human being. The quote is highlighting the
significance of knowing our inner power and it is the only way to
conquer over any fear or hurdle. Thus, if some one can provide
the light to people then they can easily find the right way, this is
my interpretation form the above written quote of Ms Baker.
QUOTE

Crowther, L. (2014). Ella Baker: 10 Facts. Retrieved from Legacy.Com:
http://www.legacy.com/news/explore-history/article/ella-baker-10-facts
Scelfo, J. (2017, 01 16). On MLK Day, Honor the Mother of the Civil
Rights Movement, Too. Retrieved from TIME:
http://time.com/4633460/mlk-day-ella-baker/
REFERENCES