“Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother's son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.” - Ella Baker
(Ella Baker)
Ella Baker was born on December 13th, 1903 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
(Baker as a child)
In 1927 Baker graduated from Shaw University. She then moved to New York City, NY. In 1931 she joined the Young Negroes’ Cooperative League. She also worked for the Worker's Education Project of the Works Progress Administration. She also protested Italy's invasion of Ethiopia and supported the campaign to free the Scottsboro defendants in Alabama. She also founded the Negro History Club at the Harlem Library.She befriended John Henrik Clarke during this time. In 1938 she joined the NAACP. In 1940 she was a secretary for the NAACP.
(Baker in 1940)
In 1943 she was director of branches. In 1946 she left the NAACP and returned to New York City, NY to care for her niece. In 1952 she became president of the New York City branch of the NAACP.
(Baker in 1952)
In 1953 she ran for New York City council and lost. In 1957 she joined the SCLC. In 1960 she joined SNCC. In 1961 she convinced SNCC to make 2 branches. She also helped organize freedom rides. While apart of SNCC she mentored Stokely Carmichael.
(Baker in 1961)
In 1962 Baker worked on the staff of the Southern Conference Education Fund. In 1964 she helped organize the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.
(Baker (Right) with Fannie Lou Hamer (Left))
In 1967 she left the Southern Conference Education Fund. In 1972 she traveled the country in support of the "Free Angela" campaign.
(Baker in 1972)
On December 13th, 1986 Ella Baker died of natural causes in New York City, New York, USA. She was 83 years old.
(Baker in 1986)
Today is the 30th anniversary of her death. Take time to remember this great activist today.
Videos of Ella Baker
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjCibLwkOaw “Celebrating 15 Years of People-Powered Change”
(P.S. sorry for the late post)
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