Power to the People

“Strong people don’t need strong leaders.”
— Ella Baker

About eight in ten Americans believe the nation's democratic system is under serious threat, with majorities in both parties saying that the leaders of our democratic institutions are failing to uphold democratic values. At the same time, a majority of respondents say they have little or no confidence in the political wisdom of the American people.

So where do we turn to restore our democracy? Human rights activist Ella Baker said that meaningful change can only come from one source.

Baker was one and the most influential — and unsung — leaders of the American civil rights movement. She was a behind-the-scenes organizer who worked with some the 20th century's most acclaimed civil rights leaders like Thurgood Marshall and Martin Luther King Jr. Yet she rejected singular charismatic leadership, and promoted grassroots organizing and participatory democracy. “Strong people don’t need strong leaders,” she said.

Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that citizens understand the needs and urgencies of their communities better than political leaders and institutions, and should have the power and tools to advocate for themselves. Her work focused on equipping ordinary people with skills, confidence and voice. Baker understood democracy as a practice of participation, not leadership and direction.

Mexican painter Diego Rivera’s captivating work "Detroit Industry" captures this democratic ethos in visual form. The mural is comprised of twenty-seven panels grounded in the grassroots labor of workers. They form the foundation of the piece, where effort and information circulates. There is manifest power in the coordinated movements and shared competencies. No figure dominates the scene, and each puts their body on the line in service to a larger purpose. There are no spectators.

This is the work of democratic renewal.

1. Barbara Ransby, "Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement" (2003).
2. Diego Rivera, "Detroit Industry" (1932–33).