Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells made a difference by exposing the horrors of lynching, advocating for civil rights, and co-founding the NAACP.

Ida B. Wells, born into slavery in 1862 in Mississippi, became a pioneering journalist, suffragist, and civil rights activist. Her fearless investigative journalism exposed the brutal realities of lynching in the United States, challenging the racial injustices of her time. Wells' work laid the foundation for the modern civil rights movement.

Wells began her career as a teacher and later became a journalist. Her writings in newspapers such as The Memphis Free Speech and Headlight brought national attention to the issue of lynching. Her groundbreaking pamphlet, Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases, published in 1892, documented the widespread practice of lynching and debunked the myths used to justify it.

Wells' activism extended beyond journalism. She was a co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and played a key role in the women's suffrage movement. Despite facing significant opposition and threats to her life, Wells remained steadfast in her commitment to justice and equality.

Wells' legacy is celebrated in numerous books and films. Her life and work continue to inspire those who fight against racial and gender inequality. For more information on Ida B. Wells, you can visit Biography.com.