Ida B. Wells: The Civil Rights Movement

As America gained its Independence in 1776, two groups, blacks and women, were disenfranchised from the newly found freedom of the nation. However, there were no shortage of individuals and groups that worked towards equal rights and justice for all. For African-Americans, and women in some respect, one of the trailblazers who fought racism, inequality, and injustice was Ida B. Wells. Born into slavery six months before President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Wells was a fierce civil rights leader, activist, suffragist, and journalist; but was best known as a fearless anti-lynching crusader.

The oldest of eight children, Ida B. Wells was born in Holly Spring, Mississippi in 1862 to James Wells and Elizabeth Warrenton -- who

were slaves until 1863. Wells' parents were active in the Republican Party during Reconstruction. Her father, James, was involved with the Freedman’s Aid Society and helped start Shaw University. At an early age her parents were determined for Wells and her school age siblings to get an education. As a teenager, Wells and her siblings attended Shaw University (now known as Rust College) -- the school her father helped start. Sadly, in 1878, tragedy struck as a yellow fever epidemic ravished the South, including Mississippi, and Wells' parents and her youngest sibling died. After the death of her parents, Wells became the caretaker of other siblings. In 1881, at the age of 19- years old, Ida B. Wells moved to Memphis, Tennessee and became a teacher in an effort to support her family. While in Memphis, Wells became a leading figure in the community. As one of the cities to survived the Civil War, many African-Americans moved to the region, but soon realized they were not welcome by Whites. As one local paper stated, “‘thousands of lazy Negro men and women’ were now ‘spending most of their time sunning themselves by day and stealing at night’ under the protection of federal troops.” (Schiff, pp. 9). The effects of Jim Crows Laws were starting to take hold of Southerners’ believes and attitudes. It was in Memphis where Wells would first begin her lifelong campaign against racial, class, and gender injustice and inequalities faced by African-Americans. It was also in Memphis she wrote and published her first article; and become the co-owner of Memphis Free Speech and Headlight.
The beginnings of Idea B. Wells activism and journalism career occurred in 1884 on a train trip from Memphis to Woodstock. Wells, who purchased a ticket for the first-class car, was asked by conductor to move to the “Negro car.” (Schiff, pp. 2). She refused to move, noting she had a ticket for the only first-class ladies’ car.
Embolden by legislation passed in 1881 -- requiring railroads to provide "separate but equal" accommodations for African-American passengers (Schiff, pp.

2) -- at the next stop, Wells got off the train and promptly after returning to Memphis she sued Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company. Wells hired an African-American attorney who worked with a White attorney to win Wells a judgment of $200 against the Railroad. The railroad appealed the verdict. In a second case of discrimination, again involving Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company, Wells sued and this time was rewarded $500. The railroad appealed again and this time the two verdicts were overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Disappointed by the outcome, Wells turned her "sharp intellect and resolve to fighting discrimination at a time when few else dared." (Schiff, pp. 4). Many wanted to hear about the experiences of the young African-American who stood up against the railroad, but this was just one fight of many to come for the young

Wells.
In Memphis the economic status of African-Americans was improving which led to increased racial tension between them and Whites.

Also during this time, Jim Crow Laws did not help matters. Violence against African-Americans increased and lynching was the form of punishment for any blacks, and Whites in some cases, who angered and disapproved of white supremacy. In 1892 Thomas Moss -- among Wells closest friends -- along with two other black men, Calvin McDowell and Henry Stewart, where lynched. The three men were the owners of People's Grocery and their small grocery had taken away customers from competing White businesses. A group of angry White men attacked People's grocery, but the owners fought back, shooting one of the attackers. The White men turned out to be plain clothes sheriff deputies. The owners of People's Grocery were arrested, but a lynch-mob broke into the jail, dragged them away from town, and brutally murdered all three grocery store owners. Outrage by the lynching of the three black men, Wells wrote, lynching “was an excuse to get Negros who were acquiring wealth and property, and thus keep the race terrorized and keep the nigger down.” (A Passion for Justice,

29:55).
With the help of others, Wells raised $500 to investigate the cause of lynching and her first pamphlet was published on the subject. Because of her anti-lynching crusade, Wells was forced to leave Memphis due to fear for her life. Wells move to Chicago, but continued her work using her journalism skills. In Chicago, Wells founded numerous organizations for African American women, and became involved in the women suffrage movement. Along with Jane Addams, she successfully prevented Chicago from establishing segregated schools. It was also in Chicago Wells found love. In 1895, Wells married a prominent Chicago attorney, Ferdinand Lee Barnett, who was the editor of one of Chicago’s black newspapers. During the next few years, Ida and Ferdinand had four children but continued their work. In 1909, Wells-Barnett became a founding member of the National Afro-American Council, which later became the NAACP.
Ida B. Wells-Barnett was an all-round champion for injustice and inequalities faced by African-Americans and women from 1884 to the l920s. She stood as one of our nation's most uncompromising journalist, activist, and civil rights leader. In the end all the work she put forth paved the way for helped stopped many practices that were unjust. Moreover, it was her work that helped shaped the Civil Right Movement and laid the foundation for many African-African and White leaders to follow. Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a true hero of the late 19th and early 20th century in the United States.