Ida B. Wells
by B.H.
Hello, I was born
July 16, 1862 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. I was born as a slave the
second year of the civil war. I tried to stop lynching and just like
Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus, I was
arrested for not giving up my seat on the train to stop segregation
decades before Rosa Parks. My parents were James and Elizabeth. My
siblings and I joined Shaw University to learn how to read the bible. I
learned to love words while I was there. I was in prominent newspapers
across the nation. I was offered editorship of a small Memphis
newspaper called “Free Speech Headlight.” I was a teacher. I got fired
in 1891 because of my editorials criticizing the Memphis school board
of education for “separate” schools. I organized boycotts of white
owned businesses in response of the lynching. I wrote articles and gave
speeches ageist lynching. I was given $500 to investigate lynching and
publish findings. I stopped lynching. I launched a tour throughout the
northeast to further spread my message on the horrors of lynching. Who
am I?
