Black History Month: Celebrating Those Who Came Before Us

Ella Baker (1903 - 1986)

Ella Baker has been called the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement” for her essential role in shaping the civil rights movement. She was a field secretary and branch director for the NAACP, co-founded an organization that raised money to fight Jim Crown laws, and was a key organizer for Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). It could be said that her biggest contribution to the movement was the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which prioritized nonviolent protests, assisted in organizing the 1961 Freedom Rides, and aided in registering Black voters. The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights carries on her legacy.

February 13, 2021

Source: O The Oprah Magazine, January 2021; Ella Baker Center for Human Rights; Time Magazine, January 2017; SNCC Legacy Project (The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee)

The Columbia Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, or use of leave protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act, in its programs, activities, or with regard to employment. The Columbia Board of Education is an equal opportunity employer. Inquiries regarding Columbia Public Schools' compliance with IDEA and Section 504 regulations should be directed to Special Services.

Equity

Black History Month: Celebrating Those Who Came Before Us

Columbia Public Schools