Ella Baker, one of the most influential yet unsung heroes of the American Civil Rights Movement, was born on this day. A tireless organizer and strategist, she began her activism in the 1930s and would go on to lead the New York branch of the NAACP.

In the 1960s, she played a pivotal role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and was instrumental in supporting young activists during the student-led sit-in movement. Her mentorship led to the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960, where her belief in grassroots organizing deeply influenced its structure and philosophy.

Baker’s legacy is defined by her commitment to community empowerment and collective leadership, summed up in her famous quote:

“Strong people don’t need strong leaders.”