The broad ax salt lake city, ut, july 14, 1917 in a time of extreme racism and yellow journalism, documenting and speaking the truth about lynchings in the south was a rare and dangerous act. The publisher, suffragist, and civil rights leader ida b. Wells held a copy of her book, the red record, in her hands and had a sense of deep satisfaction. See more ideas about ida b wells, black history, african american history. She gives statistics, facts, and some stories of victims and tells of just how brutal and disturbing the lynchings were in america. She was fired from her teaching job and became a fulltime journalist. In a red record, the first statistical analysis of lynchings nationwide, she urged readers to petition congress for an investigation of mob violence. Wells, was an africanamerican journalist, newspaper editor, suffragist, sociologist, georgist, and an early leader in the civil rights movement. She never stopped speaking the truth that she sawthe truth that she found through facts and figures. Jan 27, 2021 in the late 1910s, the federal bureau of investigation updated its file tracking a woman whod been born into slavery in holly springs, mississippi.
That year she helped found the newspaper memphis free speech and began to publish articles denouncing. Wells barnett, head of the antilynch crusade, who lectured throughout the united states and europe on the subject for several years. As a journalist and newspaper publisher, wells barnett traveled throughout the south documenting and writing about the unjust lynchings of. Wells barnett gave 14 pages of statistics related to lynching cases committed. Ida died from kidney disease in chicago on march 25, 1931. Childhood, career, education, facts, legacy 1999 ida bell wells barnett july 16, 1862 march 25, 1931 was an africanamerican journalist, newspaper editor, suffragist, sociologist, and an early leader in the civil rights movement.
After a stint teaching in a segregated school, wells turned to journalism to record her horror at the many injustices suffered by black people. She was born as a slave in mississippi just before emancipation. Wells was an african american journalist, abolitionist and feminist who led an antilynching crusade in the united states in the 1890s. Wells, consider the facts 1899 this document was written by ida b. Account of the elaine arkansas race riot of september 30, 1919. She remained a controversial figure to her death, and was excluded by other leaders of the black community.
She married ferdinand barnett in 1895, and was known as ida b. The red record tabulates these scenes of brutality in clear, objective statistics, allowing the horrifying facts to speak for. She had written a few articles for newspapers and decided to turn to journalism full time. Wells barnett was a prolific author whose work covered a wide range of subjects. After months of research and writing, it was finally published in spring of 1895.
In it, wells outlined lynch law in georgia and chronicled a sixweek period in the south. Ida bell wells barnett july 16, 1862 march 25, 1931, more commonly known as ida b. Wells barnett, born enslaved in 1862, became a publisher of the memphis free speech newspaper, which reported on discrimination. About the author 2002 ida bell wellsbarnett 1862 1931 was an american investigative journalist, educator, and an early leader in the civil rights movement.
As more and more civil rights laws were ignored by society in the late 1800s, she became increasingly involved in politics to stop the trend of social injustice. An intimate portrait of the activist as a young woman black women writers series by ida b. Ida was one of the original founders of the national association for the advancement of colored people naacp. Neither federal nor state governments took any effective action to combat lynchings. African americans at the worlds columbian exposition ida b. Wells barnett and her passion for justice, duke university. Wells ida was one of the original founders of the national association for the advancement of colored people naacp. Three years later, she bought a share in the memphis. Wells and her latenineteenthcentury crusade to abolish lynching. Ida bell wellsbarnetts life was dedicated to ending horrible injustices against africanamericans. Archives and rare books division, the new york public l. Wellsbarnett s biography, works and quotes online for free. Wellsbarnett, journalist, civil rights activist and a founding member of the.
Wellsbarnett has 57 books on goodreads with 18517 ratings. Wellsbarnett was a prominent journalist, activist, and researcher, in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. Wells barnett 18621931 is widely remembered for her courageous antilynching crusade in the 1890s. This past sunday marked the 155th anniversary of the late activists birth, and a look at her life shows that her fight against injustice started very early in her life. Senate bill 63 state senator hugh stewart magill, jr. Wells later wells barnett 18621931 was born into slavery in holly springs, mississippi. Wells barnett fought to stop the lynching of black americans, carrying her fight to the white house. Wellsbarnett biography, quotes, works and writings. Wells and published in the atlanta journal and the atlanta constitution.
W45 1997 this brief volume introduces readers to the prominent reformer and journalist ida b. Historic places of the civil rights movement, accessed 27 april 2017. Wells negro american biographies and autobiographies, and more on. An intimate portrait of the activist as a young woman which was actually later published and edited by her daughter. Wells was an africanamerican journalist and activist who led an. Wells, was an africanamerican journalist, newspaper editor, suffragist, sociologist, feminist,1 georgist,2 and an early leader in the civil rights movement. After a stint teaching in a segregated school, wells turned to journalism to record her horror at the many injustices suffered by black. Wellsbarnett 18621931 is widely remembered for her courageous antilynching crusade in the 1890s.
Wellsbarnett, including on lynchings, and crusade for justice. Tabulated statistics and alleged causes of lynchings in the united states. Wellsbarnett, nee ida bell wells, born july 16, 1862, holly springs, mississippi, u. Wells, was an antilynching activist, a muckraking journalist, a lecturer, an activist for racial justice, and a suffragette. Ida died on march 25, 1931 from kidney disease at 68 years old. Wells was born a slave in holly springs, mississippi, in 1862. This record, easily within the reach of everyone who wants it, makes inexcusable. Wells is most known for her crusade against the lynching of black americans that she launched in the 1890s. We submit all to the sober judgment of the nation, confident that, in this cause, as well as all others, truth is mighty and will prevail. Social welfare history project wellsbarnett, ida b. Womens autobiographical writing of the two world wars by klein, yvonne editor. The haitian building stood in as a center for americans of color. Wellsbarnett gave a speech on the lynching happening in america in 1900. Raised in mississippi after the civil war, wells worked her way through rust college and taught school in memphis, tennessee.
The evening scimitar memphis copied the story that same day, but, more specifically raised the threat. Kris durochers biography of the remarkable ida wells barnett analyzes the complexities. When mobs lynched three of her friends and destroyed her press, she began a national antilynching campaign. Ida bell wells barnett july 16, 1862 march 25, 1931 was an american investigative. Ida bell wells was an africanamerican journalist and reformer. Woman journalist crusades against lynching educational. Wellsbarnett fought to stop the lynching of black americans, carrying her fight to the white house. Wellsbarnett was an africanamerican woman of striking courage and conviction. What discrepancies do you read between the atlanta constitutions story, and. Kris durochers biography of the remarkable ida wellsbarnett analyzes the comp. She came to chicago in 1893 to protest the exclusion of african americans from exhibits at the worlds columbian exposition.
Wells barnett, nee ida bell wells, born july 16, 1862, holly springs, mississippi, u. At the age of 20, she relocated to memphis, tennessee. Wells barnett, the fiery journalist, lecturer and civil rights militant, is best. Tabulated statistics and alleged causes of lynching in the united states. She herself founded several social organizations and helped found the national association for the advancement of colored people naacp in 1909. Wells was enslaved from her birth on july 16, 1862, in holly springs, mississippi. Wells barnett, mary lee settle, mary borden, gertrude stein, joy kogawa and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. She went on to found and become integral in groups. She later was active in promoting justice for african americans. She later created the womens second ward republican club in 1910 and the alpha suffrage club in 19. See more ideas about ida b wells, black history, women in history. Wells barnett museum in her honor that acts as a cultural center of africanamerican history. In her lifetime, she battled sexism, racism, and violence. Wells museum have also been established to protect, preserve and promote wells legacy.
At about 100 pages, it was her biggest project ever. Oct 07, 2019 because many womens clubs were segregated, she founded the ida b. She traveled the country, speaking and writing about civil rights issues, unfair laws, and crimes against blacks. Wells barnett was an africanamerican woman of striking courage and conviction. Wellsbarnetts achievements were the publication of a detailed book about lynching entitled a red record 1895, the cofounding of the national association for the advancement of colored people naacp, and the founding of what may have been the first black womens suffrage group. Wells barnett was a prominent journalist, activist, and researcher, in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries. She ran for the illinois state senate in 1930, but lost. The house posed a stiffer challenge, right up to the day of the vote. But the issue was brought before the public by african american spokesmen, foremost of whom was journalist ida b. Social activist and reformer 1st edition kristina d. The club promoted the elevation of woman, home, and community. Click for more kids facts and information or download the worksheet collection.
Wells and the activism of investigative journalism. Wellsbarnett spent the final years of her life crafting an. She discusses the unwritten law which, justifies the lynchings among the many things she discusses in this speech. Wells barnett first became prominent in the 1890s because she brought international attention to the lynching of african americans in the south. In 1898 she was part of a delegation to president mckinley demanding government action in the case of a black postmaster who had been lynched in south carolina. This second report, registered the year after her fbi file was first created, came with a decisive declaration about ida b. As a skilled writer, wells barnett also used her skills as a journalist to shed light on the conditions of african americans throughout the south. Because of her parents early death, ida had to drop out of school, and take up a job as a teacher.
She achieved nationwide attention as leader of the antilynching crusade. Wells was an american activist who courageously spoke about democratic rights for people against racial inequalities. Wellsbarnetts most popular book is southern horrors and other writings. Following the end of the civil war, her father, who as an enslaved person had been the carpenter on a plantation, was active in reconstruction period politics in mississippi.
Frederick douglass, the noted abolitionist and advocate for equal rights, represented the haitian government at. Lynching and the excuse for it 1901 primary source. Wells was one of the most vocal and active reformers of her time. Wells grew up in the postcivil war south and became a fierce opponent of lynching.
Wells was disappointed that not much information was written about her so she wrote two autobiographies before her death. The associated press dispatches, the press clipping bureau, frequent book publications, and the annual summary of a number of influential journals give the lynching record every year. Wellsbarnett july 16, 1862march 25, 1931, known for much of her public career as ida b. Wells went on to become an influential reformer and. In her hometown of holly springs, mississippi, there is an ida b.
854 1187 1127 1010 1148 1315 530 742 1403 447 182 1019 791 1472 328 1433 1552 1359 653 519 247 352 252 510 1248 610 1149 336 818 1159 860