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whattheresareads's review
5.0
Really great. Though I am rarely, if ever, a fan of historical biographies, this was riveting both because it was about a pretty awesome lady (Ella Baker) whose influence in the Civil Rights Movement is overlooked for various reasons and because Ransby really does well with moving between in-depth personal biography and a more broad historical and social analysis. It's long, but it goes quickly.
jacquelynjoan's review
5.0
I want to be like Ella Baker. I wish she could be my mentor. I feel like she's done more than most other heroes we read about. She was such a pervasive influence on a generation of activists and her values were so progressive over such a wide swath of topics. Some people I admire were feminist, but racist or anti-racist, but sexist or classist or something, Ella seems almost perfect. <3
mcf's review
5.0
SO GOOD. It builds slowly, much like Baker's life, but she was such a phenomenal, transformative, confident figure that it's a delight to watch her take shape and move through the world. Truly a singular human being and activist, someone whose lessons are still relevant today, particularly for those of us who are trying to find a way to contribute to the ongoing work in which she spent her whole life.