Ella Baker: Freedom Bound [Hardcover]

Joanne Grant (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471020206 | ISBN-13: 978-0471020202 | Publication Date: March 19, 1998 | Edition: 1

Praise for ELLA BAKER

"Splendid biography . . . a valuable contribution to the growing body of literature on the critical roles of women in civil rights."--Joyce A. Ladner, The Washington Post Book World

"The definitive biography of Ella Baker, a force behind the civil rights movement and almost every social justice movement of this century."--Gloria Steinem

"This book will be received with plaudits for its empathy, insightfulness, and gendered narration of an astonishingly neglected life that was pivotal in the pursuit of American justice and humanity."--David Levering Lewis Pulitzer Prize-winning author of W. E. B. Du Bois

"Pathbreaking. By illuminating the little-known story of how profoundly Ella Baker influenced the most radical activists of the era, Grant's graceful portrayal reveals Miss Baker's transformative impact on recent history."--Kathleen Cleaver

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This reverential, earnest biography of civil rights pioneer Ella Baker (1903-1986) should give her the wider recognition she deserves. Born in Virginia, raised in North Carolina, a community activist and New York newspaper reporter during the Harlem Renaissance, Baker in 1947 helped organize a series of interracial bus trips to test segregation laws in the South, a remarkable precursor of the bloody Freedom Rides of 1961. She was instrumental in establishing two key organizations: the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which grew out of the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955, and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. A mentor to civil rights workers, she supported SNCC's metamorphosis in the mid-1960s into an all-black, militant black power group and, as Grant notes, turned a blind eye to the prevalence of weapons among its zealous recruits. Grant, producer of Fundi, a PBS television documentary about Baker, chronicles her subject's battles for school desegregation; consumer, tenants' and labor causes; her faith in grassroots democracy; and the empowerment of ordinary people. Photos.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Although virtually unknown outside the Civil Rights community, in the 1960s Ella Baker was a feisty, rebellious, and dignified organizer who worked behind the scenes, struggling to make radical changes within the NAACP and other organizations like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). She confronted racism during her many travels and male chauvinism from black Southern ministers reluctant to follow the lead of a woman. In this work, which is a bit lackluster, Grant (Black Protest, LJ 6/1/68) does a good job of capturing Baker's spirit, but the book reads more like a history of the Civil Rights Movement and Baker's major role in it, than a portrait of her personal life. We also get a revealing look at some of the key players, e.g., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Stokely Carmichael, and Rosa Parks. Recommended for students of history and for patrons with a limited knowledge of those radical years.?Ann Burns, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 270 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 19, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471020206
• ISBN-13: 978-0471020202
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,382,471 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ms. Ella Baker - the heart & soul of the movement, July 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Ella Baker: Freedom Bound (Hardcover)

More than any other single figure, Ella Baker represents the heart and soul of the civil rights movement at its highest and best. Starting earlier than most any other central leader, Ms. Baker was instrumental in sparking more of the major events in civil rights history than any other. Yet always working as the behind the scenes organizer and pushing others forward, particularly grassroots and youthful leaders, Ms. Baker is probably the least known outside the movement. No more important task exists than preserving her memory and Joanne Grant has done an excellent job in this important book. Even insiders will be surprised at what they'll learn in this comprehensive account. A great followup to Joanne's earlier documentary: Fundi - The Life of Ella Baker. Ms. Baker is universally revered among movement people for her wisdom, courage and acute political analysis that taught and guided thousands. Truly she was as close to a real saint as this world produces and to! ! uched her times in the most redemptive and revolutionary way.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forgotten Hero, December 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Ella Baker: Freedom Bound (Paperback)

Everyone has heard of Martin Luther King, but few remember what Ella Baker did. Baker helped to develop the civil rights movement by working at the grass roots level with the NAACP and SCLC but, since she worked outside of the spotlight, she has received little credit for her accomplishments. Known to most activists of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, Baker is well-deserving of a biography and this is particularly well-written one. More information about her private life could have been included though.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing condition for a used book!, August 20, 2009

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This review is from: Ella Baker: Freedom Bound (Paperback)

The used book I bought arrived at my house in a very timely order. The book looked brand new. I would recommend this book seller to anybody!