Rooted in Change:

The formative years of Ella

Ella's childhood church, South Street Baptist Church in Littleton, N.C.

Credit: N.C. State Historic Preservation Office

In 1903, steamship waiter Blake Baker and teacher Georgianna Baker welcomed Ella in Norfolk, Virginia. Ella was the middle child with an older brother named Blake Curtis and a younger sister named Margaret. Originally from Littleton, North Carolina, Blake and Anna moved their family back to their hometown when Ella was seven years old for better economic opportunities and closer to family. Ella's grandparents told her stories of their life under slavery throughout her childhood. Her grandfather Ross Baker was a Baptist minister, and Ella described her upbringing in the Baptist church as a basis for her social action as it made her aware of "the value of the human being."

Ella’s maternal grandfather Mitchell Ross taught himself how to read and write as access to education was denied to enslaved people. His daughter, Anna, continued her education and became a schoolteacher instilling the importance of literacy and education to her children. Ella Baker attended the boarding school on Shaw University’s campus.

Ella continued her education at Shaw, graduating valedictorian with a degree in Sociology in 1927. Throughout her studies, Ella also participated in the university’s debate team and became the youngest contributor to the campus newspaper. Blessed with the gift of public speaking, Ella actively challenged school policies and defied the administration's authority.

Shaw Hall at Shaw University

Credit: State Archives of North Carolina

“I didn’t break rules, but I challenged rules. And I didn’t have sense enough not to do the speaking, even to groups that were older than I.”

Ella Baker

Campus mural of Shaw University's founder Henry Martin Tupper and alumna Ella Baker.

Photo courtesy of Alex Boerner

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse