Ransby wrote about the complexity of Ella Baker's life. Ransby stated: "for me, in looking back as Baker's life in all of its rich complexity" (Ransby, Pg). In the writing the biography, Ransby brought to life a person in her writing. Her argument centered on the idea of complexity. The complexity of Baker's life leads to the importance of her legacy. Because Ransby wrote of a complex individual creates a legacy just a complex. Importantly, terms like grass-roots, listening, civil rights or educator cannot simply be used to define Baker. These terms where different parts of Baker. Rather, the life and legacy of Ella Baker represent the idea of longevity in political thought. It represents the time and effort taken to create positive change