--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had been friendly with people who were…" description: "\"I had been friendly with people who were in the Communist party and all the rest of the Left forces, which were oriented in the direction of mass actio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/ella-baker-10989_action_i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were_664826.jpg" --- # I had been friendly with people who were in the Communist… ![“I had been friendly with people who were in the Communist party and all the rest of the Left forces, which were oriented in the direction of mass action.” quote by Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/ella-baker-10989_action_i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were_664826.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/ella-baker-10989_action_i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were_664826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/ella-baker-10989_action_i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were_664826.jpg) > “I had been friendly with people who were in the Communist party and all the rest of the Left forces, which were oriented in the direction of mass action.” [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engaging with leftist groups can provide insight into collective activism and its limits. **In simple terms:** Working with leftist groups shows mass action dynamics. Key Takeaway Learn from diverse activist strategies. Themes activism politics mass action Mood determined critical Type political historical When to use this quote - community organizing - political campaigns - social movements Key Concepts collective power ideological diversity Questions to Reflect On - How can mass action be balanced with individual agency? - What risks arise from aligning with broad political coalitions? A Different Perspective May overlook internal conflicts within movements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Communist party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist-party/) [Friendly People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly-people/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Without armed struggle neither the proletariat, nor the people, nor the Communist Party would have any standing at all in China and it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/without-armed-struggle-neither-the-proletariat-nor-the-people-nor-the/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [The Left forces have a strong and growing presence in universities, youth organizations, and among trade unions and farmer organizations... This strength is bound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pinarayi-vijayan/the-left-forces-have-a-strong-and-growing-presence-in-universities/) [Pinarayi Vijayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pinarayi-vijayan/) > [“But after living in Communist China for the past seventeen years, I knew that such a society was only a dream because those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nien-cheng/but-after-living-in-communist-china-for-the-past-seventeen-years-i/) [Nien Cheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nien-cheng/) > [“The reason why people in communist countries have less "stuff," is that these economic systems to not work very well, not because their inhabitants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hilmersen/the-reason-why-people-in-communist-countries-have-less-stuff-is-that/) Thomas Hilmersen > [“Be Personable & Friendly. People who are genuinely warm and sincerely kind are easy to talk to, easy to like and bring a positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/be-personable-friendly-people-who-are-genuinely-warm-and-sincerely/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [While you should be friendly with all people, select with great care those whom you wish to have close to you. They will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/while-you-should-be-friendly-with-all-people-select-with-great-care/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“These were such friendly people, they didn't notice how crabby we were, and before you knew it everyone was as happy as they were.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-raleigh-baskin/these-were-such-friendly-people-they-didn-t-notice-how-crabby-we-were/) [Nora Raleigh Baskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-raleigh-baskin/) > [“friendly people serving friendly people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flirtease/friendly-people-serving-friendly-people/) Flirtease > [Friendly people are caring people, eager to provide encouragement and support when needed most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/friendly-people-are-caring-people-eager-to-provide-encouragement-and/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [I come from a loving, supportive family, and my mother taught me that there are more valuable ways to achieve beauty than just through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/i-come-from-a-loving-supportive-family-and-my-mother-taught-me-that/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [My great-great-grandfather Julius founded the Communist Party in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armie-hammer/my-great-great-grandfather-julius-founded-the-communist-party-in-new/) [Armie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armie-hammer/) > [ \[American Communist Party\] legally exists in the U.S.A., it nominates its candidates in the elections, including Presidential elections. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/american-communist-party-legally-exists-in-the-u-s-a-it-nominates-its/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [My father said he was going to write to the Jinzhou City Party Committee asking for permission to 'talk about love'...My mother supposed it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jung-chang/my-father-said-he-was-going-to-write-to-the-jinzhou-city-party/) [Jung Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jung-chang/) > [The State Department is infested with communists. I have here in my hand a list of 205—a list of names that were made known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mccarthy/the-state-department-is-infested-with-communists-i-have-here-in-my/) [Joseph McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mccarthy/) > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) ## More by Ella Baker > [In order to see where we are going, we not only must remember where we have been, but we must understand where we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/in-order-to-see-where-we-are-going-we-not-only-must-remember-where-we/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [The major job was getting people to understand that they had something within their power that they could use, and it could only be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/the-major-job-was-getting-people-to-understand-that-they-had/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [After the '57 initial meeting - I was up this way working, not as a staff person - there became the need for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/after-the-57-initial-meeting-i-was-up-this-way-working-not-as-a-staff/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [My theory is, strong people don't need strong leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/my-theory-is-strong-people-don-t-need-strong-leaders/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [Oppressed people, whatever their level of formal education, have the ability to understand and interpret the world around them, to see the world for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/oppressed-people-whatever-their-level-of-formal-education-have-the/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I went to what is known as, and was at that time, too, Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. In fact, because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-went-to-what-is-known-as-and-was-at-that-time-too-shaw-university/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [Strong people don't need strong leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/strong-people-don-t-need-strong-leaders/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [His name was Michael R. Ross. I've never known what the "R" was for. He died, however, before I was 7. But he and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/his-name-was-michael-r-ross-i-ve-never-known-what-the-r-was-for-he/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I guess the best way to describe that would be to connect with the fact that I came out of college just before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-guess-the-best-way-to-describe-that-would-be-to-connect-with-the/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [ I didn't have any close relationship with him because, although \[William Edward Burghardt\] DuBois may not have been as egocentric - I don't know… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-didn-t-have-any-close-relationship-with-him-because-although/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [ \[Walter White\] was also one of the best lobbyist of the period. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/walter-white-was-also-one-of-the-best-lobbyist-of-the-period/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I think, to be honest, sort of emanated from the initial work of somebody else instead of SCLC. If you take Albany; I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-think-to-be-honest-sort-of-emanated-from-the-initial-work-of/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/we-who-believe-in-freedom-cannot-rest-until-it-comes/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I didn't break the rules, but I challenged the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-didn-t-break-the-rules-but-i-challenged-the-rules/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [Remember, we are not fighting for the freedom of the Negro alone, but for the freedom of the human spirit a larger freedom that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/remember-we-are-not-fighting-for-the-freedom-of-the-negro-alone-but/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) [Explore all 62 Ella Baker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had been friendly with people who were in the Communist party and all the rest of the Left forces, which were oriented in the direction of mass action.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ella Baker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were-in-the-communist-party-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were-in-the-communist-party-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/ella-baker-10989_action_i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were_664826.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/ella-baker-10989_action_i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were_664826.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b08/ella-baker-10989_action_i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were_664826.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had been friendly with people who were in the Communist party and all the rest of the Left forces, which…” — Ella Baker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ella Baker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had been friendly with people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were-in-the-communist-party-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were-in-the-communist-party-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```