Ida b wells barnett biography
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Ida B. Wells
American journalist and civil rights activist (–)
For the American lawyer, see Ida V. Wells.
Ida Bell Wells-Barnett (July 16, – March 25, ) was an American investigative reporter, sociologist, educator, and early leader in the civil rights movement. She was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Wells dedicated her career to combating prejudice and violence, and advocating for African-American equality—especially that of women.
Throughout the s, Wells documented lynching of African-Americans in the United States in articles and through pamphlets such as Southern Horrors: Lynch lag in all its Phases and The Red Record, which debunked the fallacy frequently voiced by whites at the time that all Black lynching victims were skyldig of crimes. Wells exposed the brutality of lynching, and analyzed its sociology, arguing that whites used lynching to terrorize African Americans in the South because they repres
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Ms. Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells Barnett
Ida Wells Barnett was a trailblazing journalist, a co-founder of the NAACP and a fierce advocate for equal rights and against lynching.
From to , Ida B. Wells taught segregated public school in Memphis, Tennessee, and began writing articles for the Free Speech, a Black newspaper. In , the Memphis Board of Education fired her because her articles were too fiery and controversial. Later, she acquired a partnership in the Free Speech, became its editor and traveled throughout the southern states.
Ida B. Wells was strong-willed and spirited. Once when asked to leave the “White section” of a train, she flatly refused and had to be forcibly removed by three conductors. She sued and won $ in damages, but the decision was later reversed. She became an outspoken antagonist against the senseless murders (i.e., lynchings) of black people.
Later, writing under a pen name, she published a shocking, detailed expose on the activities of the lynch mobs.
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Ida B. Wells is an African American civil rights advocate, journalist, and feminist. She is an American Hero. View a short video about her work to guarantee access to the vote.
Wells was born enslaved in Holly Springs, Mississippi in She was the oldest daughter of James and Lizzie Wells. During Reconstruction, her parents were active in the Republican Party. Mr. Wells was involved with the Freedman's Aid Society and helped start Rust College. Rust is an historically black liberal arts college. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and was one of 10 Historic Black Colleges and Universites founded before that are still operating.
Wells attended Rust College to receive her early education, but was forced to drop out. At 16, Wells lost both parents and one of her siblings in a yellow fever outbreaks. She convinced a nearby school administrator that she was 18, and landed a job as a teacher to take care of her siblings.
In , Wells moved with her sisters to Memphis, Tenness