Ella Baker (1903—1986) played an instrumental role in the development of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Baker was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and grew up in rural Littleton, North Carolina. After graduating from Shaw University, she organized consumer cooperatives in New York and worked on consumer affairs for the Works Progress Administration (WPA). In the 1940s Baker became a national field secretary of the NAACP, traveling throughout the country organizing branches and developing membership drives. Increasingly,Baker became disaffected with the NAACP's leadership, because decision-making occurred primarily in the national office rather than in the branch organizations. You see Ella Baker believed in the peoples power of the masses not just a few so-called prominent leaders.

In 1957 Baker joined King to help found the SCLC. She directed the SCLC national office and was instrumental in coordinating major civil disobedience actions. She became critical of the SCLC because of its emphasis on charismatic leadership. She faced the resentment of the male dominated leadership of the SCLC head on. Once she realized their direction wasn’t in tune with her’s she moved on.

In 1960 Baker was the principal organizer in helping student protesters establish the SNCC. She solicited funds for SNCC and assisted in planning strategies for voter registration drives and desegregation campaigns. Baker eventually broke with the SCLC after she disagreed with ministers who felt that SNCC should simply be an arm of the SCLC, rather than an independent organization. Although she preferred working behind the scenes to playing a public leadership role, she is widely regarded by scholars as one of the central leaders in the Black Freedom movement.

The 83 years of Ella Baker's full life were so remarkable and she touched so many people of all colors in American history. Her life was indeed bigger than any hamburger served at a lunch counter. It was Ella Baker's mission to serve others not serve herself and that was the beauty that defined her life.

Before a 26-year-old Baptist minister with a PHD just secured from Boston University took over the congregation at Dexter Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. There was a minister at that same church who shook the foundations of that edifice with such a force that he was literally run out of the city.

Vernon Johns, was the minister at Dexter Avenue Church before Martin Luther King to over the church. Reverent Johns was a remarkable man of faith. He also was an ardent and passionate defender in the battle against white supremacy and southern oppression of black citizens.

He faced head-on, fearless, defiant, and determined the forces of evil that made life so miserable for blacks in Montgomery, Alabama. You might say Vernon Johns set the table for the direct action battle for equal rights that was to start within a few years after he was disposed by the deacons and trustees of the church. He was simply too demanding of change for those who sought to avoid it. So, today travel with me as I teach a mini lesson on Vernon Johns this 18th day Of February 2020. Please click on my blog link.

The Blackman's Blog salutes the awesomeness of Reverend Vernon Johns who stood strong against oppression and bigotry when others whimpered and hid. I know not many of the past two generations may have heard of Reverend Johns but he was a pit bull for justice and tenacious fighter for black rights. The sermon they are killing negroes shocked and inspired action. Vernon Johns set the stage for the action of December 5, 1955. If anyone deserves a huge statue for recognition of his fearlessness it is Vernon Johns. On my blog as I recognize and remember The Montgomery Bus Boycott I cannot nor will not forget the amazing Reverend Vernon Johns.

Today I want to bring the words of one of my heroes Amira Baraka. Ancestor Baraka was one of the leaders of the Black Arts Movement that swept across the nation in the mid to late 60s’ and early 70s. He was a poet agitator who flexed his muscle with a mighty, mighty pen of confrontation. From his base in Newark, New Jersey Mr. Baraka laid waste to the white supremacy that was engulfing the nation.

This Work Shook The Entire State Of New Jersey And The Nation in 2001. Amiri Baraka​ revealed his thoughts on the destruction of America in 2001, ​the ​destruction that was in his words 400 years in the making. So, if you aren’t looking for a pollyanna perspective of provoked ​thought. Go to my blog for this morning’s in his words, my voice, Amiri Baraka’s, Somebody Blew Up America. As I continue to journey on our black history need not be a black mystery.