Ida B. Wells-Barnett: The Original Rosa Parks
Ida B. Wells-Barnett (mainly known as Ida B. Wells) was one of the most important civil rights advocates of the 19th century in America. She was born a slave in Holly Springs, Mississippi on July 16th, 1862. Before her parents died of the yellow fever epidemic (Norwood), they instilled in her the importance of getting an education, especially during the Reconstruction Era, a time when African-Americans were maintained at an inferior status in America. Her growing hunger for knowledge would lead her to become an emblem of change for the black community.
In 1884, her first steps to the pathway of activism began when she bought a first-class train ticket from Memphis to Woodstock (Black). Although Rosa Parks in commonly credited with being the first colored person to take a stand against racism while using public transportation, she was about 80 years too late; Wells was actually the first colored person to do it (Black). Despite having bought a ticket in the first-class section of the train, Wells was ordered by the conductor to move to the smoking section, so that a white passenger could take her place in first-class. Wells refused to move and stood up for her rights, ultimately getting forcibly removed from the train. Determined not to back down for the justice she deserved, Wells filed and won a lawsuit Railroad company in 1887, however, the Tennessee Supreme Court withdrew her victory. Her continuous battles with racism and injustice inspired her to express her feelings through writing. She would go on to become a part owner of the Free Speech and Headlight, a newspaper company in Memphis at the time (Black), further taking on the role as an activist for African-Americans.
In 1892, three of her friends were lynched (Black) and since the lynching of blacks was extremely prevalent during the time, she wrote an expose in response to the unjust, violent and inhumane targeting of the black community. Unsurprisingly, her writing piece on the matter was not well received by many of the whites living in Memphis. As a result, they burned her newspaper office, along with much of her research from intense digging and investigation (Norwood). When she began fearing for her life due to the threats she received from speaking out against injustice, Wells made the decision to move to Chicago, where she continued writing on the lynch cases in the south for the New York Age newspaper (Black).
Along with maintaining her anti-lynching stance, Wells began fighting for desegregation and for women’s rights. For instance, she played a major role in helping to block the establishment of segregated schools in Chicago (Black). In 1906, she promoted the Niagara Movement, an activist group which advocated for blacks to have full civil rights. She also founded the Alpha Suffrage Club of Chicago in 1913, the first black suffrage organization (Black).
One of Wells’ greatest contributions to American society, was her role in helping to organize the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), an activist group that continues defending and helping the current black community in America. Today, Wells is remembered as an advocate for change for those who could not speak for themselves during a time of racism. Although this social issue still exists, her determination to always let her voice be heard paved the way for the advancement of rights for African-Americans and caused a rippling effect, inspiring many others after her to fight against racial injustice.
In 1884, her first steps to the pathway of activism began when she bought a first-class train ticket from Memphis to Woodstock (Black). Although Rosa Parks in commonly credited with being the first colored person to take a stand against racism while using public transportation, she was about 80 years too late; Wells was actually the first colored person to do it (Black). Despite having bought a ticket in the first-class section of the train, Wells was ordered by the conductor to move to the smoking section, so that a white passenger could take her place in first-class. Wells refused to move and stood up for her rights, ultimately getting forcibly removed from the train. Determined not to back down for the justice she deserved, Wells filed and won a lawsuit Railroad company in 1887, however, the Tennessee Supreme Court withdrew her victory. Her continuous battles with racism and injustice inspired her to express her feelings through writing. She would go on to become a part owner of the Free Speech and Headlight, a newspaper company in Memphis at the time (Black), further taking on the role as an activist for African-Americans.
In 1892, three of her friends were lynched (Black) and since the lynching of blacks was extremely prevalent during the time, she wrote an expose in response to the unjust, violent and inhumane targeting of the black community. Unsurprisingly, her writing piece on the matter was not well received by many of the whites living in Memphis. As a result, they burned her newspaper office, along with much of her research from intense digging and investigation (Norwood). When she began fearing for her life due to the threats she received from speaking out against injustice, Wells made the decision to move to Chicago, where she continued writing on the lynch cases in the south for the New York Age newspaper (Black).
Along with maintaining her anti-lynching stance, Wells began fighting for desegregation and for women’s rights. For instance, she played a major role in helping to block the establishment of segregated schools in Chicago (Black). In 1906, she promoted the Niagara Movement, an activist group which advocated for blacks to have full civil rights. She also founded the Alpha Suffrage Club of Chicago in 1913, the first black suffrage organization (Black).
One of Wells’ greatest contributions to American society, was her role in helping to organize the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), an activist group that continues defending and helping the current black community in America. Today, Wells is remembered as an advocate for change for those who could not speak for themselves during a time of racism. Although this social issue still exists, her determination to always let her voice be heard paved the way for the advancement of rights for African-Americans and caused a rippling effect, inspiring many others after her to fight against racial injustice.
"The way to right wrongs is to turn the truth upon them."- Ida B. Wells-Barnett
Works Cited:
Black, Patti Carr. “Ida B. Wells: A Courageous Voice for Civil Rights.” Mississippi History Now, 2017. Accessed Nov. 24, 2018.
Norwood, Arlisha. “Ida B. Wells-Barnett.” National Women’s History Museum, 2017. Accessed Nov. 24, 2018.
Images Cited:
Bowean, Lolly. "Ida B. Wells-Barnett." Chicago Tribune, 1890, https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-idabwells-nine-things-to-know-20180719-story.html.
"Ida B. Wells Cover." Everquote, 2018, https://www.thequotes.net/quotes/facebookcover/1021-Ida-B-Wells-Quotes.html.
Videos Cited:
"Before Rosa Parks there was Ida B. Wells." Youtube, uploaded by All Black Media, 9 Jan. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBuGT3FvMuc.
Black, Patti Carr. “Ida B. Wells: A Courageous Voice for Civil Rights.” Mississippi History Now, 2017. Accessed Nov. 24, 2018.
Norwood, Arlisha. “Ida B. Wells-Barnett.” National Women’s History Museum, 2017. Accessed Nov. 24, 2018.
Images Cited:
Bowean, Lolly. "Ida B. Wells-Barnett." Chicago Tribune, 1890, https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-idabwells-nine-things-to-know-20180719-story.html.
"Ida B. Wells Cover." Everquote, 2018, https://www.thequotes.net/quotes/facebookcover/1021-Ida-B-Wells-Quotes.html.
Videos Cited:
"Before Rosa Parks there was Ida B. Wells." Youtube, uploaded by All Black Media, 9 Jan. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBuGT3FvMuc.