Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement, Second Edition: A Radical Democratic Vision

One of the most important African American leaders of the twentieth century and perhaps the most influential woman in the civil rights movement, Ella Baker (1903-1986) was an activist whose remarkable career spanned fifty years and touched thousands of lives. A gifted grassroots organizer, Baker shunned the spotlight in favor of vital behind-the-scenes work that helped power the Black freedom struggle. Making her way in predominantly male circles while maintaining relationships with a vibrant group of women, students, and activists, Baker was a national officer and key figure in the NAACP, a founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and a prime mover in the creation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

In this definitive biography, Barbara Ransby chronicles Baker's long and rich career, revealing her complexity, radical democratic worldview, and enduring influence on group-centered, grassroots activism. Beyond documenting an extraordinary life, Ransby paints a vivid picture of the African American fight for justice and its intersections with other progressive struggles worldwide throughout the twentieth century.

Author: Barbara Ransby
Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
Published: 10/15/2024
Pages: 512
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.55lbs
Size: 8.80h x 6.00w x 1.30d
ISBN13: 9781469681344
ISBN10: 146968134X
BISAC Categories:
- Biography & Autobiography | Social Activists
- History | African American & Black
- History | United States | 20th Century

About the Author
Barbara Ransby is John D. MacArthur University Chair and Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Black Studies, Gender and Women's Studies, and History at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she directs the Social Justice Initiative. A longtime activist in progressive social movements, her most recent book is Making All Black Lives Matter: Reimagining Freedom in the Twenty-First Century.