An advocate of “fundamental social transformation”, this belief, combined with Ella Baker’s consistent confidence of change beginning within the local people of the movement, paved her path to becoming a life-time activist for civil liberties and equality among all Americans. (194) While she may be renown amongst Civil Rights enthusiasts, Baker’s involvement and impact on the movement remains relatively unknown to the majority of Americans. Barbara Ransby’s book Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement attempts to end this silence, and does so very convincingly. Throughout her book, Ransby points out example-after-example of how Baker is either directly or indirectly involved with many of the Civil Rights Movement’s most famous moments – creation of the NAACP, freedom rides, the SCLC, Birmingham, Albany, the SNCC, etc. After reading about her dedication and the sacrifices she made for the …show more content…
As Ransby states, she was “also passionately committed to a broader humanitarian struggle for a better world.” (5) A visionist, Baker believed this transformation could only occur through a “democratic, cooperative, and localized movement that valued the participation of each of its individual members… [This] was the bedrock of her political vision.” …show more content…
As she notes, Baker’s first real exposure to politics occurred at Shaw University in North Carolina when she “challenged the school’s conservative dress code, criticized the paternalistic racism of its president, and protested its methods of teaching religion and the Bible.” (59) After leaving Shaw, Baker would continue her political career, which included positions within the three most prominent civil rights groups in the nation – the NAACP, SCLC, and SNCC. While the positions she held in the NAACP and SCLC were revolutionary for its time, it was her work with the SNCC that created the legacy of Ella
In this book, it discusses Ella Baker and her involvement in the civil rights movement. In one chapter of the book, Chapter 3: Harlem During the 1930s, it touches base on Baker’s involvement in radical activism during the Great Depression. Specifically, Ransby explains how Baker began her involvement in the activist community after she graduated from college and moved to New York City, where she was emerged into an environment with left wing views. In Harlem, she would participate street corner discussions in regards to the black freedom movement and radical visions.
Sweet Land of Liberty: The Forgotten Struggle for Civil Rights in the North by Thomas J. Sugrue is a comprehensive description of the civil rights movement in the North. Sugrue shows Northern African Americans who assembled against racial inequality, but were excluded from postwar affluence. Through fine detail and eloquent style, Sugrue has explained the growth and hardships integral in the struggles for liberties of black Americans in the North. The author explores the many civil rights victories—such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Act of 1965—but also takes the reader on a journey of many lesser known issues that occurred throughout states in the North and Mid-west United States. Sugrue illustrates the struggles of black
Did you know that in 1882 to 1968, there were almost 4,000 people lynched that were black and about 1,000 lynched that were white? In the twentieth century a muckraker, by the name of Ida B. Wells, reported on similar Lynch cases. Ida B. Wells was an African-American journalist in the twentieth century, also called a muckraker, who wrote articles about lynching and led an anti-lynching movement. She changed America socially, morally, and economically through her investigative reporting. Ida B. Wells changed America socially because her speaking out inspired African-Americans to raise their voices and to create new protests due to the strong influence she had on them.
Kingsley Wu ELA 3rd Period January 26, 2023 Ella Baker What would you do if you were discriminated against and were in a position to fight for equal rights? Ella Baker was born in Norfolk Virginia on December 13, 1903. Ella Baker grew up in the rural part of North Carolina, She attended Shaw university and graduated in 1927. Ella Baker has impacted the world by fighting for equal rights and helping to stop discrimination against different races. (Biography.com 2023)
Madison Busby Ms. Alfaro English 1302 14 February 2018 Throughout the last couple of decades, Texans have seen particularly influential revelations come through from a large number of culturally diverse people. One of these diverse individuals is Juanita Shanks Craft, an African American woman who greatly influenced the great state of Texas. Craft contributed to African American culture in Texas by participating in Civil Rights movements, becoming a chairman of the NAACP, helping young african americans attend different colleges, and many other influential contributions.(Abernathy-McKnight) Juanita greatly assisted in paving the pathway for African American cultures and rights in Texas. Born in Round Rock, Tx, Juanita Craft grew up
In her speech, Josephine Baker explains the discrimination she faced when she came to America, and how she decided to stand up against it. She also encourages the audience to support the cause she’s been fighting for. In her speech, she states, “And when I got to New York way back then, I had other blows—when they would not let me check into the good hotels because I was colored, or eat in certain restaurants.” This demonstrates how big a problem racial injustice was in America. Baker explains how in France, the color of her skin didn’t matter, but it was a whole different story in America.
Moody, Anne. Coming of Age in Mississippi: The Classic Autobiography of Growing up Poor and Black in the Rural South. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub, Group, 1976. Throughout the mid-fifties and early sixties, the Civil Rights Movement was most characterized by major non-violent protests and campaigns of civil resistance, with the ultimate goal of securing legal rights for the people of colored race and making all aspects of society equal.
Anne Moody’s autobiography, Coming of Age in Mississippi takes place during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement. During this period of time African Americans did not have much say in society. Most African Americans acted as if they were deaf and blind puppets that had no reaction to anything that the White man said or did due to fear. Anne Moody, takes the reader through her personal journey, enduring extreme poverty growing up to joining the Civil Rights Movement where she found “something outside [herself] that gave [her] meaning to life” (Moody 286).
African Americans face a struggle with racism which has been present in our country before the Civil War began in 1861. America still faces racism today however, around the 1920’s the daily life of an African American slowly began to improve. Thus, this time period was known by many, as the “Negro Fad” (O’Neill). The quality of life and freedom of African Americans that lived in the United States was constantly evolving and never completely considered ‘equal’. From being enslaved, to fighting for their freedom, African Americans were greatly changing the status quo and beginning to make their mark in the United States.
Former House of Representatives member Jeannette Rankin, a pacifist, took stance for what she believed in despite the negative comments she knew she would receive. Encouragement was an important factor in Rankin’s life growing up. With great support from her family, she became highly motivated to involve herself in numerous activities such as getting an education. Following in her family’s footsteps, she became involved in political activism (Congress 340). In 1911, she became active in the women’s suffrage movement and was later assigned the position of a field secretary for the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1913 (Frost 446).
Barbara Jordan is one of Texas History’s most brilliant pioneers. She is most well-known for fighting her way into the political arena as Texas’ first black, female Senator. She paved the way for black men and women in politics, never letting anyone or anything get in the way of her dreams. For her hard work and tireless effort, she was rewarded with recognition in the political arena and reverence, even in death, being given the highest honor of burial in the Texas State Cemetery amongst Texas leaders like Ma and Pa Ferguson, Ann Richards and Stephen F. Austin. Barbara Jordan overcame a meager beginning and set out to prove she could be somebody, she used her voice to make a name for herself, never tired of fighting for education and equality,
Johnson, Raenaya 11 / 14 / 17 Period. 7 Josephine Baker is known by certain people as the Flamboyant African American entertainer. Ms. Baker has also earned fame and fortune in Paris in the 1920' s stated in " Speech of the March on Washington ". Josephine became vocal opponent of segregation and discrimination. Ms.Baker talked about what went on in her life growing up and has given advice to us young adults.
Often referred to as "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald was one of the most popular female jazz singers in the United States. Throughout her career, Ella was awarded thirteen Grammys and sold over 40 million albums. With a voice that not only encompassed a large range, but a dynamic and powerful sound, Ella could sing almost anything from scatting to the popular tunes of her day. She performed in the top venues all around the world to packed houses, with audiences as diverse as the music she created. Ella came from a small town and impoverished family, but through her talent and determination, skyrocketed to fame creating a legacy that has withstood the sands of time.
Josephine Baker was born June 3, 1906 in St. Louis Missouri and died April 12, 1975 in Paris France. Josephine Baker was a singer, civil rights Activist, Dancer. As she got old she went by the nickname Black Venus, Black Pearl, and Creole Goddess. Her life was filled with, broadway productions, marriage life, racism, traveling, and civil rights movements. She had to face all those different things in her life, but she focused on her dance career more than anything.
Sara Josephine Baker was a devoted individual who had a major impact on the Progressive era (1890’s-1920s. Although she was faced with obstacles such as discrimination, she managed to overcome issues that could have potentially hindered her ability to educate others on how improve their health. Her main focus was on improving women and children’s health. Using her knowledge of public health, Sara Josephine Baker implemented health plans that proved to be beneficial to society. Going forward, I will further discuss the accomplishments of Sara Josephine Baker and the positive outcome that she had on public health during the progressive era.