Ida B. Wells

Date of Birth: July 16, 1862

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: March 25, 1931

Biography

Ida B. Wells was an American investigative journalist, educator, and early leader in the civil rights movement. Born into slavery in Holly Springs, Mississippi, she grew up during Reconstruction and became a prominent voice against racial injustice. Wells is best known for her crusade against lynching in the United States, using her skills as a journalist to document and expose the atrocities. She co-owned and wrote for the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight newspaper, where she published her investigative reports. Her activism extended to women’s rights as well; she was a founding member of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and a co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Ida B. Wells’ tireless efforts laid the groundwork for future civil rights advancements, making her a pivotal figure in American history.

5 Interesting Facts about Ida B. Wells

1. Ida B. Wells was one of the first African American women to run for public office in the United States.

2. She helped establish the first African American kindergarten in her community.

3. Wells was a skilled orator and traveled internationally to speak about the horrors of lynching.

4. She was a firm believer in self-defense and even carried a pistol for protection.

5. Ida B. Wells was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize special citation in 2020 for her outstanding and courageous reporting on the horrific and vicious violence against African Americans during the era of lynching.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ida B. Wells

1. “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”

2. “One had better die fighting against injustice than die like a dog or a rat in a trap.”

3. “The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.”

4. “I felt that one had better die fighting against injustice than to die like a dog or rat in a trap.”

5. “A Winchester rifle should have a place of honor in every black home, and it should be used for that protection which the law refuses to give.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Ida B. Wells did not achieve significant financial wealth; her highest net worth is not documented as she primarily focused on activism and journalism.

Children

Ida B. Wells had four children with her husband, Ferdinand L. Barnett: Charles Aked Barnett, Herman Kohlsaat Barnett, Ida B. Wells Barnett, and Alfreda M. Barnett.