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Ella Baker's Catalytic Leadership: A Primer on Community Engagement and Communication for Social Justice (Communication for Social Justice Activism)
Ella Baker (1903–1986) was an influential African American civil rights and human rights activist. For five decades she worked behind the scenes with people in vulnerable communities to catalyze social justice leadership. Her steadfast belief in the power of ordinary people to create change continues to inspire social justice activists around the world.
This book describes a case study that translates Ella Baker’s community engagement philosophy into a “catalytic leadership praxis” that others can adapt for their work. Catalytic leadership is a concrete set of communication practices for social justice leadership produced in equitable partnership with, instead of on, communities. The case centers the voices of African American teen girls who were living in a segregated neighborhood of an affluent college town and became part of a small collective of college students, parents, university faculty, and community activists learning leadership in the spirit of Ella Baker.
This book describes a case study that translates Ella Baker’s community engagement philosophy into a “catalytic leadership praxis” that others can adapt for their work. Catalytic leadership is a concrete set of communication practices for social justice leadership produced in equitable partnership with, instead of on, communities. The case centers the voices of African American teen girls who were living in a segregated neighborhood of an affluent college town and became part of a small collective of college students, parents, university faculty, and community activists learning leadership in the spirit of Ella Baker.
- GenresSocial Justice
198 pages, Paperback
Published November 17, 2020
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January 4, 2026
I've recently become fascinated by Ella Baker. Her core tenet that strong people don't need strong leaders really speaks to me. This is a really fascinating book, but I'm not finishing it because I was actually looking for something a little more focused on theory and history than praxis. Those who are specifically looking to see how people have applied Baker's strategy in contemporary social justice contexts will get a lot out of this.
I also bought Barbara Ransby's book at the same time I bought this, and I think that may be more what I want. I'm also looking into getting myself some Gramsci, and to see if I can find any of the articles or interviews with Ms Baker cited here.
My one criticism is that this book is a bit difficult to access if you have a gestalt or bottom-up processing style. Working to present ideas with both bottom-up and top-down processors in mind makes works like this more accessible and inclusive.
I also bought Barbara Ransby's book at the same time I bought this, and I think that may be more what I want. I'm also looking into getting myself some Gramsci, and to see if I can find any of the articles or interviews with Ms Baker cited here.
My one criticism is that this book is a bit difficult to access if you have a gestalt or bottom-up processing style. Working to present ideas with both bottom-up and top-down processors in mind makes works like this more accessible and inclusive.
Displaying 1 of 1 review