ABHM Book Club: Ella Baker & The Black Freedom Movement
As part of ABHM’s Women’s History Month programming, we will be reading and discussing Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement by Barbara Ransby. We will discuss this important book on Thursday, March 27th at 6 PM.
Ella Baker (1903–1986) was one of the most significant African American leaders of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential woman in the civil rights movement. Over a remarkable fifty-year career, she touched thousands of lives as a skilled grassroots organizer. Avoiding the spotlight, Baker focused on crucial behind-the-scenes work that fueled the Black freedom struggle. She was a key figure in the NAACP, co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and instrumental in the creation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
In this definitive biography, Barbara Ransby offers a comprehensive portrait of Baker, highlighting her radical democratic vision, commitment to group-centered activism, and lasting impact on social justice movements. The book not only chronicles her extraordinary life but also paints a broader picture of the African American fight for justice and its connections to global progressive struggles throughout the twentieth century.
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