Charles Payne’s journal article, “Ella Baker and Models of Social Change” explains the extensive work Ms. Baker put forth fighting against racial injustices. Since childhood, Baker was surrounded by a supportive community that inspired her later work to encourage herself and others to have a sense of self-value and strength (Payne, 1989, p. 886). That security, stemming from within, enables individuals to be leaders on their own; which underscores another one of Ella Baker’s key points: that developing leadership among other people should precede the development of people who are interested in being leaders (Payne, 1989, p. 892). Meaning, decentralize traditional leadership so that every individual has access to their own version of self-determination. In doing so, individuals–especially younger peoples–are less dependent on one singular–usually older–leader (Payne, 1989, p. 893). As Ella Baker said, “strong people don’t need strong leaders” (Payne, 1989, p. 893). The personal strength and confidence unlocks the freedom that many people yearn for through the leadership of other people (Payne, 1989, p. 893). Baker believed, “the very idea of leading people to freedom is a contradiction in terms…freedom requires that people be able to analyze their own social position and understand their collective ability to do something without relying on leaders” (Payne, 1989, p. 893).