Ella Baker

Ella "Jalapena" Baker

Hey! My name is Jalapena. But today, you can call me Ella Baker!

For 2 decades, I was a fellow leader in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950’s and 60’s, while helping create the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee!

I was born in Norfolk, Virginia on December

13th, 1903 and passed on the same day in 1986!

In 1927, I graduated as my class Valedictorian from Shaw University.

After graduating, I moved to New York City and joined the Young Negroes Cooperative League (YNCL). This organization collected money to get better deals on goods and services for the community. By 1930, I was the YNCL’s National Director.

In 1940, I became the Field Secretary for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This required a lot of traveling to raise funds and recruit members to the organization.

In 1943, I became the NAACP’s National Director of Branches!

In 1957, I helped create the Southern Christian Leadership Conference along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In 1960, I assisted in creating the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.

My legacy lives on through the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, which aims to combat the problems of mass incarceration and strengthen low-income communities.

A K-8 public school in Harlem, NY is named after me! Ella Baker School!

I am known as the most powerful “Behind the Scenes” force that made sure some of the most important movements in history were a success!

Today, I am Ella Baker! And So are you!