I've never believed that the people really were willing and able to pay the price of integration. From a practical standpoint, anyone who looked at the Harlem area knew that the potential for integration per se was basically impossible unless there were some radically innovative things done. And those innovative things would not be acceptable to those who ran the school system, nor to communities, nor even to the people who call themselves supporters of integration.
Download Image Share on X Share on Facebook

About This Quote

About Ella Baker

Ella Baker was a 20th-century American african-american civil rights activist. Ella Josephine Baker was an African-American civil rights and human rights activist. She was a largely behind-the-scenes organizer whose career spanned more than five decades. Read more on Wikipedia →

More quotes by Ella Baker

“The major job was getting people to understand that they had something within their power that they could use.”
— Ella Baker
happiness

“[Our children] had the privilege of growing up where they'd raised a lot of food. They were never hungry. They could share their food with people. And so you share your lives with people.”
— Ella Baker
helping people

“Strong people don't need strong leaders.”
— Ella Baker
self confidence

“Give light and people will find the way.”
— Ella Baker
Light People Find

“Remember, we are not fighting for the freedom of the Negro alone, but for the freedom of the human spirit, a larger freedom that encompasses all mankind.”
— Ella Baker

“Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother's son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens...”
— Ella Baker
View all quotes by Ella Baker →