Ida B. Wells was born in 1862 in Hollysprings, Maryland. Wells as seen and been through a lot in her life time. She had seen first hand what slavery did to the people in her community and family. Just after slavery, post-reconstruction her family experiences the aftermath of slavery. Ninety percent of the slaves were illiterate and just before the war it was illegal for slaves to receive an education or read or write. However, over time Wells went on to receive an education and she brought it back to the community. She was a school teacher in Memphis, Tennessee and she also took care of her younger siblings because her parents died from yellow fever.
Wells continued to be a school teacher until an incident occurred on a train. She was riding on train and the conductor asked Wells to move out of her seat so that a white woman could sit. She kindly refused and then she was thrown off the train. Wells later sued the train company and was rewarded five hundred dollars. However, the case was over turned in the Supreme Court of Justice. Wells would not allow the injustice to remain silent. Over time she became a journalist and activist at the same time. Wells spoke out with a pen and piece of paper.
During her time lynching became very popular. Wells spoke out about racial atrocities that were going on in her community. “…East St. Louis exploded in one of the worst riots in history, in which from forty to two hundred blacks were killed and six thousand more routed from their homes” (460). Wells spoke out about these horrendous behaviors directed toward Blacks. African American soldiers returning from the war was astounded by the racial tension among Blacks and Whites. They were fighting a war overseas but the “Great War” was in their communities. “African American soldiers were returning from a war in which they expected significant gains; instead, race violence and lynching escalated” (460).
Most men who were economically aggressive and...