Ida B. Wells

Works Cited(continued)

"Ida B. Wells-Barnett." Olemiss.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. <http://www.olemiss.edu/mwp/dir/wells-barnett_ida/>.

"Jim Crow Stories." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_people_wells.html>.

United States. National Park Service. "We Shall Overcome -- Ida B. Wells Barnett House." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. <http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/il2.htm>.

Works Cited

"Ida B. Wells Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. <http://www.biography.com/people/ida-b-wells-9527635?page=1>.

"Ida B. Wells-Barnett - Quotes." Ida B. Wells-Barnett Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. <http://www.goodreads.com/author/

quotes/102474.Ida_B_Wells_Barnett>.

"Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Her Passion for Justice." Duke.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. <http://people.duke.edu/~ldbaker/classes/AAIH/caaih/ibwells/ibwbkgrd.html>.

Death and Legacy

In 1931, Wells passed away from kidney disease. She was very ahead of her time not only a leader in the fight for racial equality but as a leader in the fight for womens rights. Her determination in the face of danger was very inspiring to other women of her time and this helped pave the way for other female leaders such as Rosa Parks.

"One had better die fighting against injustice than to die like a dog or a rat in a trap."

Later Life

After her newspaper building in Memphis was burned, Wells decided to stay in the north for her safety. She moved to Chicago and married Ferdinand Barnett, an editor for an african american newpaper. She would have four children with him and continued her activism. She would collaborate with many leaders in the fight for civil rights such as Frederick Douglass. Some of her later accomplishments included helping establish the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Association of Colored Women.

In Harm's Way

After the death of the three store owners, Wells left Memphis to bring the racial injustice in Memphis to the public's attention. She traveled all throughout the south to gather information on other lynching incidents and kept writing in her newspaper. After publishing a number of editorials on the subject, Wells' newspaper office was burned down. Luckily, Wells was in New York at the time.

"The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them"

Journalism Career

Not long after the train incident, Ida became a part owner and writer for the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight. While there she wrote under the pen name Iola and talked about racial injustices happening in the south. One story she wrote was about three african american grocery store owners in Memphis. Their new business took customers from the white owned grocery stores. After the three men defended their store from an attack by the white store owners, they were arrested and lynched.

Call to Activism

In 1884, Ida Wells had purchased a first class train ticket. When the conductor asked her to give up her seat and sit in the segregated section, Wells denied and was eventually removed from the bus. Wells sued the railroad company soon after and won but the ruling was revesed in appeals court. This act of discrimination inspired Wells to work to help create equality for people of all color.

Childhood

When she was only 16, both of Well's parents died of yellow fever. Because of this, Ida was forced to drop out of school in order to care for and support her siblings. She became a teacher at the age of only 16.

Ida Wells (back) with her siblings

Birth

Ida B Wells was born a slave in Holly Springs MI on July 16, 1982. She and her family were freed about six months after her birth due to the Emancipation Proclamation. After gaining their freedom, Wells's father joined the board of trustees at Rust College.

Ida B. Wells