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Freedom Cannot Rest: Ella Baker and the Civil Rights Movement (Portraits of Black Americans)

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As with most women in the Civil Right's Movement, the work of Ella Baker has been largely overlooked. Yet she worked tirelessly behind the scenes organizing, raising money, and raising awareness. She often traveled alone, which was dangerous for any woman in the early part of the 20th Century, and especially so for a black woman. She worked closely with mainstream organizations such as NAACP and the SCLC, but distrusted their topdown leadership style and often clashed with that leadership. She believed in group-centered leadership, and cultivated that approach as an advisor to youth organizations such as SNCC.

This book is clearly written and amply illustrated with period photos and artwork. In addition to being a compelling biography of Ella Baker, it also provides a concise overview of the Civil Rights Movement, particularly with regard to the various approaches and factions within the movement. It's about time that the women's voices of that era are heard, and this latest title from Morgan Reynolds' "Portraits of Black Americans" series is a great place to begin.