How Did Ida B Wells Became A Women's Rights Activist

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The Life of a Crusader: Ida B. Wells-Barnett Wandy Ojea United States History II Mr. Ickles In an era where women are finally speaking out about the injustices that they face in society, Ida B. Wells paved the path for other women’s rights activists in the battle against sexism and racism. As a public speaker, journalist, and teacher, Wells was able to share her ideas and impact thousands. Ida B. Wells-Barnett (better known as Ida B. Wells) was a women’s rights activist, civil rights activist, and an anti-lynching crusader. Despite having to face many obstacles, she had always had strong opinions that she believed the world should hear. Ida B. Wells was born into slavery on July 16th of 1862 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. When she was sixteen years old, her parents, James and Lizzie Wells, and one of her siblings were killed by the Yellow Fever outbreak. This left Wells to take care of her other siblings. Having attended Shaw University (now Rust College) she had a basic education which is all you needed to be a teacher so Wells lied to a school and told them that she was eighteen so that they would give her a …show more content…

Wells took her seat in first class on a train from Memphis to Nashville when the train’s crew tried to make her move her seat to the train car for African Americans even though she paid for a first class ticket. Wells sued the company and won but this decision was later overruled. This experience was a turning point in Ida B. Wells life because it made her realize that she had a voice and that people need to hear it. After this she began writing about racial and political issues in the south. Ida B. Wells often felt like she lacked a sufficient amount of education, still, she wrote for free in church newspapers. She took on the name “Iola” when she was writing because she felt that it was a name southerners could relate to. After some time, Wells became the proud owner of the “Memphis Free Speech and

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