Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Anti-Lynching Advocate

Ida B. Wells-Barnett was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1862. Both her parents and her youngest sibling died from the Yellow Fever epidemic. Ida was just fourteen at the time. She moved to Memphis to live with her aunt. Now as the head of her family, she took the responsibility of raising her youngest siblings. Little did she know that this would prepare her for what she would do for her life's work as a leader.

In 1884 she refused to give up her seat on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company train to a white man. Even though the 1875 Civil Rights prohibited discrimination based on race, creed or color, so many companies ignored the law.

She was forcibly removed from the train much to the delight of the white passengers.

After hiring an attorney, she won a lawsuit against the railroad company in the local circuit courts. However, the ruling was appealed to the Supreme Court of Tennessee where it was overturned.

It was because of this incident that this teacher turned to journalism as a way to express her views and opinions.

In 1889 she teamed up with Rev. R. Nightingale, pastor of the Beale Street Baptist Church. Together they founded the Free Speech and Headlight newspaper.

In 1892 Thomas Moss, Calvin McDowell and Henry Stewart, friends of hers were murdered. They were the owners of the People's Grocery Company. They proved to be tough competitors and won over customers from white businesses. Of course, that made the white owners angry. Out of revenge and jealousy they attacked the trio. In defense, People's Grocery Company fought back. They were arrested, dragged through the streets and were lynched.

Naturally this hurt Ida very much. She began writing about the atrocities and senseless deaths that were done to African-Americans. For her own safety, she had to leave Memphis.

She moved to Chicago and continued her anti-lynching writings. It was here that she met her husband, Attorney F. L. Barnett. They married in1895. In 1909 she was one of the founding members of the NAACP. In 1930 she ran for public office.

Ida B. Well was a fighter for justice. She used her writing skills as her weapon to speak against discrimination. She also worked for the rights of women.

Ida B. Wells died in 1931. Her contributions to our country are priceless.

SOURCE:

Women With A Message. 1988 by Media Materials, Inc. Baltimore, MD.

http://www.duke.edu/~ldbaker/classes/AAIH/caaih/ibwells/ibwbkgrd.html