About Us
The Pitch
Title: Built By The Ancestors: A Legacy of Black Institutions and Their Enduring Power
Authors: Russell A. Baptist, LCSW and Ebuka W. Ukoh, MSW
Hook: Built By The Ancestors is not just a history book — it’s the blueprint of Black institutional power
in America. From the African Methodist Episcopal Church to Prince Hall Freemasonry, from
Historically Black Colleges and Universities to the Divine Nine, from the NAACP to the Urban
League — these are not isolated organizations, but an interconnected ecosystem of survival,
resistance, and cultural leadership. Each chapter of the book takes a forward-thinking approach,
exploring an institution’s origins, its role in the present day, and its potential to shape the future
— all grounded in meticulous research. This book reveals how they were built, how they have
sustained one another, and why our future depends on keeping them alive.
Concept & Content: Most historical works treat these institutions as separate stories. Built By The Ancestors breaks
that mold, showing their deep interdependence:
AME Church laid the spiritual and organizational foundation.
The Freemasons and Prince Hall Lodges built networks of mutual aid and leadership.
HBCUs trained generations of Black professionals and leaders.
The Divine Nine forged bonds of service and activism among students and alumni.
The NAACP transformed the legal and political landscape.
The Urban League opened doors to economic opportunity.
These six pillars share leadership, resources, and values — without one, the others would have
been weaker, perhaps impossible. This narrative connects their histories, celebrates their
victories, and makes an urgent case for their preservation in today’s changing social and political
climate.
Why Now: In a time when voting rights are under attack, diversity programs are being dismantled, and
educational curricula are being stripped of African American history, Built By The Ancestors
offers both a reminder and a roadmap. It speaks to a renewed hunger for stories of self-
determination, resilience, and collective action. This is not just a look backward — it’s a call to
action for sustaining Black institutions into the next century.
Audience: Civil rights activists and policy advocates
Social workers and community organizers
Nonprofit leaders and business leaders
Sociologists and educators
General readers interested in social justice and institutional history
Readers of African American history and culture
Students and alumni of HBCUs
Members of Black Greek-letter organizations
Church and fraternal organization members
Comparable Titles: The Warmth of Other Suns – Isabel Wilkerson (narrative history that intertwines multiple
stories)
The Black Church – Henry Louis Gates Jr. (focus on one institution; Built By The
Ancestors broadens the lens)
Our Kind of People – Lawrence Otis Graham (social history of Black America’s elite
networks)
About the Authors: Russell A. Baptist is a professor and senior lecturer in Advocacy, Leadership, and Program
Development at the Columbia University School of Social Work. A seasoned psychotherapist
supervisor and gifted storyteller, he is deeply connected to the very institutions chronicled in this
book. Built By The Ancestors is forward-looking in scope — each chapter examines, through in-
depth research, an institution’s past, its present-day impact, and its future possibilities. Drawing
on both scholarly rigor and lived experience, Baptist offers a vision that honors tradition while
charting a path forward. This is his second published work as a nonfiction author.
Ebuka W. Ukoh is a graduate student at Columbia University from Nigeria, currently pursuing a
PhD in Social Work. His perspective brings a global lens to the African American institutional
story, highlighting shared struggles and strategies across the African diaspora. He considers
“Professor Baptist” a mentor, and their collaboration bridges generations, geographies, and
disciplines.
Status & Length: Manuscript in progress, estimated 70,000–80,000 words, with select chapters and a detailed
proposal available.
Closing: Built By The Ancestors is more than a historical account — it’s the living record of how we have
built power in America, and how we can keep building. This is a book about leadership, faith,
strategy, and survival — and about the unbreakable chain that connects our past, present, and
future.
Russel A. Baptist, MS., LSCW - Author
Russell Baptist is a trailblazer in the field of social work, with a distinguished career dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive care for marginalized communities. Currently a senior lecturer at Columbia University School of Social Work, Professor Baptist has authored state-approved curricula in Macro Practice, Leadership, Management, Program Planning, and Development. Most recently, he led a comprehensive rewrite of the school’s core course on Advocacy and Social Work Practice, ensuring its relevance for today’s evolving social and political landscape.
He is the President and Founder of The A. and S. Consulting Services, a private practice organization that offers leadership coaching, clinical evaluations, and technical assistance to institutions and nonprofits focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
As one of New York State’s first Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), Baptist was a founding member and former Managing Director of Programs at the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS), where he helped pioneer integrated supportive housing and mental health services for special-needs populations. He led and developed interdisciplinary teams—social workers, psychiatrists, and paraprofessionals—while implementing evidence-based practices and advancing DEI initiatives in urban systems of care.
With sponsorship from the Robin Hood Foundation, he directed the development of Single Stop USA, an anti-poverty program designed for Harlem and Washington Heights. He also founded the George Brager Scholarship Program for college-bound students in supportive housing, named in honor of the late dean of Columbia’s School of Social Work.
Professor Baptist has provided extensive training across New York City, Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles, with a focus on topics such as LGBTQ+ inclusion, Black mental health, homelessness, cultural competence, and social work supervision. He has successfully managed contracts and collaborations with federal agencies such as SAMHSA, HUD, and the Veterans Administration, as well as key departments across
New York City and State including DOHMH, OMH, DHS, and HRA.
His clinical work includes providing psychotherapy to foster youth and mentoring emerging social workers in complex systems. He has served as a lecturer at Stony Brook University and as a frequent consultant, keynote speaker, and media contributor on local television and radio.
Professor Baptist’s leadership also extends to nonprofit governance. He has served on the Board of Directors for Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD), The Association for Retired Citizens (ARC) XII, and as former Board Chair of Unity Fellowship Church
NYC. He is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and maintains a visible presence across major social media platforms where his advocacy and commentary reach a broad and engaged audience.
He holds degrees from Texas College (an HBCU) and Columbia University, where he earned his MS in Social Work Practice. He is a & JFK Jr. Fellow/Mentor & and has completed additional studies at Yeshiva University, Long Island University, and the University of the District of Columbia.
His published works include Adam and Steve: The Rules for Men Attracted to Other Men (2015, revised 2016), and his forthcoming book Built By the Ancestors: A Legacy of Black Institutions and Their Enduring Power explores the historical, cultural, and future impact of foundational Black-led organizations—such as the AME Church, Prince Hall Masons, HBCUs, and the NAACP—and affirms their ongoing role in shaping justice, leadership, and legacy in American society.
Ebuka W. Ukoh - Co-Author
A doctoral researcher at Columbia University and an emerging global voice from Nigeria. He frames his work as science in service of social justice, exploring how gender-based violence and extreme weather collide to expose deep social inequalities—and how communities can build resilience in their wake. A writer and commentator, Ebuka connects Africa’s struggles for justice with global conversations on democracy, climate, and leadership. His voice bridges scholarship and lived experience, illuminating how dignity and freedom are pursued across borders.