When she was young her parents and one sibling died from the 1878 yellow. Family, education and early life born a slave in 1862, ida b. Wells was a skilled and persuasive rhetorician, and traveled internationally on lecture tours. Start each day with chicago tribune editors top story.
Born into slavery, she was freed by the emancipation proclamation but grew up amongst widespread discrimination and racial prejudice. See more ideas about ida b wells, black history, african american history. Ida bell wellsbarnett july 16, 1862 march 25, 1931 was an american investigative. 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. Wells was born enslaved in holly springs, mississippi. Wells is writing a biography of the pioneering africanamerican journalist and activist. Ida bell wells barnett july 16, 1862 march 25, 1931 was an american investigative journalist, educator, and early leader in the civil rights movement. Born into slavery, she became a civil rights pioneer, a crusading journalist who documented atrocities against blacks at great personal risk. Her parents were james and lizzie wells who were were slaves owned by a man named mr. Wells biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. During the 1880s and 1890s, more than 100 black citizens were lynched each year. Wells was journalist whose articles about the experiences of black. Ida b wells was a journalist, civil rights activist and female suffrage campaigner.
This biography is written for elementary readers grades 2nd5th. Wells ida was one of the original founders of the national association for the advancement of colored people naacp. Jacqueline jones royster reports that between 1882 and 1931, the naacp statistics showed that 3,318 africanamerican women, men, and children were lynched at the hands of parties unknown. Wells is an african american civil rights advocate, journalist, and feminist. It tells the story about ida i hard working woman who is trying to support her family after the death of her parents. Wells 18621931 is widely known for her campaign against lynchingwork for which she was awarded a posthumous pulitzer prize in 2020. She was educated at rust university, a freedmens school in her native holly springs, mississippi, and at age 14 began teaching in a country school. Wells as prophet for our time, cowritten with nibs stroupe. Wells and the personal tragedy she experienced that pushed her to raise national awareness about violence and. Michelle duster, author, educator, and the greatgranddaughter of pioneering journalist and activist ida b. In the eyes of the fbi, this made her a dangerous negro agitator.
Wells was born to james wells and elizabeth lizzie warrenton wells on july 16, 1962, in mississippi. After working on various projects for over 30 years, it is exciting to finally see my greatgrandmothers sacrifice and legacy be fully recognized, duster said in a statement. Wellsbarnett battled sexism, racism, and violence, particularly. Wells was an africanamerican journalist of the late 19th century, famous for her campaign against lynching, particularly in the south. 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. The wells family, as well as the rest of the enslaved people of the. Duster will collaborate on the book with atlantic staff writer hannah giorgis. Wells, a breezy, accessible and colorful gettoknow of a biography. Fearless in her opposition to lynchings, wells documented hundreds of these atrocities. Wells barnett and some background history to her accomplishments and impacts on society. As a campaigning journalist, she highlighted the issue of lynching, racial discrimination and injustice in american society. Ida b wells was born only months before president abraham lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation. Wells was born into slavery in holly springs, mississippi on july 16, 1862. Wells was an african american journalist, abolitionist and feminist who led an antilynching crusade in the united states in the 1890s.
Long before boycotts, sitins, and freedom rides, ida b. Wells was born a slave in holly springs, mississippi, on july 16, 1862, six months before the emancipation proclamation freed all of the slaves in the confederate states. Over the course of a lifetime dedicated to combating prejudice and violence, and the fight for africanamerican equality, especially that. Wells was born on july 16, 1862 in holly springs, mississippi raised by the wellrespected james and elizabeth wells. This engaging story illuminates history through the efforts of one of its. Wells, the antilynching activist and fearless investigative journalist who is the subject of my latest book, written with nibs stroupe. Wells, her greatgranddaughter, michelle duster, combines the major nodes of this exceptional life with a 400year timeline contextualizing her greatgrandmothers work. Wells was hard at work to better the lives of african americans.
Wells was born in holly springs, mississippi, on july 16, 1862. Ida bell wells was born a slave in holly springs, mississippi in 1862, 3 just before united states president abraham lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation. Biography ida b wells this generator generates a random fact from a large database on a chosen topic everytime you visit this page. She was one of the founders of the national association for the advancement of colored people naacp. Duster coeditor, michelle obamas impact on african american women and girls delivers a vibrant and accessible portrait of her greatgrandmother ida b. Born an enslaved person in holly springs, mississippi, on july 16, 1862, wells was the oldest daughter of james and lizzie wells. It was a large family and her parents were able to support them, because of her mothers culinary skills and her fathers expertise as a carpenter. Wells was one of the eight children by her parents, and they lived in bollings house now known as the bollinggatewood house. Wells was was the daughter of american slaves and was born in holly springs, mississippi, on july 16, 1862. Wells was born enslaved in 1862 and was a teenager when she lost her parents to yellow fever. Wells was the oldest daughter of james and lizzie wells. Wells lost several friends to lynching and so her passion became telling the country of these awful happenings.
Wells was one of the eight children, and she enrolled in the historically black. Wells barnett s biography, works and quotes online for free. Ida bell wells 18621931, one of the most important civil rights advocates of the. Wells committed herself to the needs of those who did not have power. Ida bell wellsbarnett 18621931 wikitree free family tree. Wells worked her entire life to make the world aware of this american holocaust.
Wells, a black journalist in memphis launched a crusade against lynching. Finally, we have a biography worthy of one of the bravest and most influential activists in u. The article discusses briefly on her early life, journalism and activism, and her later career. Wells greatgranddaughters new book on wells legacy. Wells barnett was a prolific author whose work covered a wide range of subjects. This childrens picture book describes the life of ida b. Duster is an author and educator who has spoken often about the legacy of wells and. Ida bell wells barnett july 16, 1862 march 25, 1931 was an africanamerican journalist, newspaper editor, suffragist, sociologist, and an early leader in. In this remarkable book, mia bay understands ida b. The wells family, as well as the rest of the slaves of the confederate states, were decreed free by the union thanks to the emancipation proclamation about six months after ida s birth. If you love this and want to develop an app, this is available as an api here.
Wells was born into slavery in holly springs, mississippi on july 16. Wells barnett 18621931 is widely remembered for her courageous antilynching crusade in the 1890s. The book describes the life of wells, from slave to activist during the civil rights movement. Ida b wells parents were both enslaved by an architect named spires bolling. She continued to teach after moving to memphis, tennessee, in 1884 and attended fisk university in nashville during several summer sessions. Start each day with chicago tribune editors top story picks. The wells family, as well as the rest of the slaves of the confederate states, were decreed free by the union thanks to the emancipation proclamation about.
Catherine meeks is the retired clara carter acree distinguished professor of sociocultural studies at wesleyan college in macon, georgia, and director of the absalom jones center for racial healing. The wells became former show more content on a train ride from memphis to nashville, ida was treated with disrespect and unequal accommodation. Her parents, james and elizabeth wells, learned to read after slavery and. Ida bell wells, later wells barnett 18621931, was an african american civil rights advocate and an early womens rights advocate active in the woman suffrage movement. The bleak years after the civil war brought continuing oppression to african americans. After the civil war, many black men were lynched in the south.
She was born ida bell wells on july 16 th, 1862, in holly springs, mississippi. Feb 03, 2021 in a new biography aimed at teens, ida b. See more ideas about ida b wells, black history, women in history. Duster delivers a vibrant and accessible portrait of her greatgrandmother ida b. Her parents were slaves when wells was born and died from yellow fever when she was 14. Her parents, who were very active in the republican party during reconstruction. At 16, wells lost both parents and one of her siblings in a yellow. Ida bell wells was an africanamerican journalist and reformer. Wells barnett, an african american journalist, was an active crusader against lynching and a champion of social and political justice for african americans. Her parents were politically active and her father was a founder of shaw university now rust college, a historically black liberal arts school. It helps me to tell the truth freely, and i am encouraged every day by my dear sister, ida b. This article is adapted from passionate for justice. Wells in fullas thinker, writer, crusader, politician, and woman of the world. Born to slaves, she was a pioneer of investigative journalism, a crusader against lynching, and a tireless advocate for suffrage, both for.
She ran for the illinois state senate in 1930, but lost. Born into slavery in mississippi and orphaned at age 16, wells raised her five siblings with the help of her grandmother and found work as a teacher and newspaper reporter in memphis, tenn. Wells, was an antilynching activist, a muckraking journalist, a lecturer, an activist for racial justice, and a suffragette. The disease took both of wellsbarnetts parents and her infant brother. She was the first child of james wells, an apprentice carpenter, and elizabeth. Her father was james wells and her mother was elizabeth lizzie warrenton wells. Robert charles and his fight to death, the story of his life, burning human beings alive, other lynching statistics. Dec 11, 2011 this pin was discovered by annette e brown. Ida grew up in holly springs, mississippi, the oldest of eight children. So began the civil rights pioneers crusade against lynching. One signal publishers announced thursday that michelle dusters ida b. She fought a lonely and almost singlehanded fight, with the singlemindedness of a crusader, long before men or women of any race entered the arena. May 14, 2020 new york ap the greatgranddaughter of ida b. Ida s life is wellknown in some communities, but ida b.
Wellsbarnett july 16, 1862march 25, 1931, known for much of her public career as ida b. Wellsbarnett biography, quotes, works and writings. Wells, specifically highlighting why she became a journalist and african american civil rights acti. Wells black history books, history facts, black history. Jan 06, 2021 born an enslaved person in holly springs, mississippi, on july 16, 1862, wells was the oldest daughter of james and lizzie wells. Wells, announced that she will be publishing a biography about her greatgrandmothers extraordinary life and career. Nov 18, 2019 catherine meeks is the retired clara carter acree distinguished professor of sociocultural studies at wesleyan college in macon, georgia, and director of the absalom jones center for racial healing. Wells, second edition negro american biographies and autobiographies by ida b. Wells was enslaved from her birth on july 16, 1862, in holly springs, mississippi. Wellsbarnett, nee ida bell wells, born july 16, 1862, holly springs, mississippi, u. Her parents were slaves of an architect, spires bolling. Her mother was a cook in the bollinggatewood house. Long before either my mothers or my resistance, there was ida b.
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