Civil Rights and Human Rights Activist. Ella Baker spent her life working in various organizational roles in the Civil Rights Movement. She believed that "strong people don't need strong leaders" and supported grassroots involvement of people in direct action. She initially worked for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), starting as a field secretary and rising to president of the New York branch. She later worked for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, headed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but was frustrated with the male hierarchy of the organization. She organized the meeting at Shaw University in April 1960 that led to the formation of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). She continued to take part in SNCC, mainly as a quiet leader who listened and encouraged the young activists and greatly influenced the next generation of African-American leaders. She next helped organize the Mississippi Democratic Freedom Party (MDFP) as an alternative to the Mississippi Democratic Party. Her efforts with MDFP ultimately led to the reform of the National Democratic Party to allow non-whites and women as delegates. Baker then worked for the Southern Conference Education Fund, an interracial organization focused on human rights. She returned to New York City in 1967 and continued to be involved in various human and civil rights organizations until her death. She acquired the nickname Fundi, which is Swahili for a teacher of a craft to the next generation.
Civil Rights and Human Rights Activist. Ella Baker spent her life working in various organizational roles in the Civil Rights Movement. She believed that "strong people don't need strong leaders" and supported grassroots involvement of people in direct action. She initially worked for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), starting as a field secretary and rising to president of the New York branch. She later worked for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, headed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but was frustrated with the male hierarchy of the organization. She organized the meeting at Shaw University in April 1960 that led to the formation of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). She continued to take part in SNCC, mainly as a quiet leader who listened and encouraged the young activists and greatly influenced the next generation of African-American leaders. She next helped organize the Mississippi Democratic Freedom Party (MDFP) as an alternative to the Mississippi Democratic Party. Her efforts with MDFP ultimately led to the reform of the National Democratic Party to allow non-whites and women as delegates. Baker then worked for the Southern Conference Education Fund, an interracial organization focused on human rights. She returned to New York City in 1967 and continued to be involved in various human and civil rights organizations until her death. She acquired the nickname Fundi, which is Swahili for a teacher of a craft to the next generation.
Bio by: Curtis Jackson
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