Truth! No one or two thousand words can do her justice. (This comment appears to post twice for me. The algorithm must want to agree, so I'll leave it alone.)
Great story! Ida B Wells was, of course, a monumental person in our history, and one of the few that we acknowledge. Reading this, however, with the knowledge of her great granddaughter embracing writing for herself, her own history, her family's history... a powerful new dimension.
Thank you, Jan! The family story really spoke to me, too. Michelle Duster weaves Ida Wells' story with her own with current activist topics very readably in the book I cited extensively, "Ida B. the Queen."
I've read her pamphlet on lynching. She was a wonderful writer. A reminder that the written word can have great power. But often it takes time and perseverance, cf. parents, teenagers.
Haha! Thank you for the parent-teen reference. I'm in the thick of it now. 😂 One thing I find inspiring about Ida Wells was how respectfully her name was passed around in the network of Black-owned and -edited newspapers that crossed the country. She was a celebrity in her time because people saw their lives were better for her struggle, and people loved her for that. She was mighty.
Thank you for mentioning the LoC. I use it to find images, but I didn't know they had a whole section on folk song documentation. I see there are lots of things by Alan Lomax and Charles Seeger. Will have to peruse this further to see what gems I can find!
God bless your memory, Ida Wells. Some of that fire in your soul just lit some outrage in mine. No one should ever experience the ugly injustices you suffered, but because of your strength to resist, the world is a little better for all of us.
And thank you, Tara, for reminding us of this extraordinary young woman who, “on her twenty-fifth birthday . . . could say this much about her future: ‘I hunger & thirst after righteousness & knowledge.’” I pray she found her heart's desire.
Wells wrote that journal entry as a prayer. (The quotation comes from a longer entry, quoted in _Ida B. the Queen_.) That may help to account for her marvelous energy. 🙏
Bless her. She was strong and at least a little feisty. From her picture, there’s a hint of good humor. All good traits when fighting evil. The one thing evil cannot abide is being laughed at.
It is those who "hunger & thirst after righteousness & knowledge,” along with those who hunger and thirst for beauty and the good, that give this wounded world the hope it needs to keep spinning through space.
Thank you for this excellent history lesson Tara. Human nature amazes me, that some amazing folks have the depth and capacity to stand by their convictions no matter what. We need reminders of this.
Thank you for this well-researched and referenced article, Tara. I had heard the name, but knew very little about her. How on earth did she keep going through it all? Terrifically inspiring.
Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story, Tara. I'd not heard of Ida Wells before. Despite her warm reception in Britain, I'm not aware that she has become a famous figure there, as she clearly deserves.
In the U.S., also, people who know the names of Frederick Douglass and Rosa Parks may not know of Ida Wells. Hopefully, the sustained work of Michelle Duster and others is changing that. Wells is now in some college literature anthologies, which means that future teachers are more likely to read her work. Small steps.
Brilliant woman, and well researched and written account of her contributions to American history. I was also struck by the resemblance between Michelle Duster and her great-grandmother!
Ida Wells was a truly remarkable woman.
Truth! No one or two thousand words can do her justice. (This comment appears to post twice for me. The algorithm must want to agree, so I'll leave it alone.)
Such an inspiring article, Tara.
Thank you, Tina. Glad you enjoyed it!
Great story! Ida B Wells was, of course, a monumental person in our history, and one of the few that we acknowledge. Reading this, however, with the knowledge of her great granddaughter embracing writing for herself, her own history, her family's history... a powerful new dimension.
Thank you, Jan! The family story really spoke to me, too. Michelle Duster weaves Ida Wells' story with her own with current activist topics very readably in the book I cited extensively, "Ida B. the Queen."
I will have to check out that book!
Recommended! :-)
Thanks for highlighting an American hero.
I've read her pamphlet on lynching. She was a wonderful writer. A reminder that the written word can have great power. But often it takes time and perseverance, cf. parents, teenagers.
Haha! Thank you for the parent-teen reference. I'm in the thick of it now. 😂 One thing I find inspiring about Ida Wells was how respectfully her name was passed around in the network of Black-owned and -edited newspapers that crossed the country. She was a celebrity in her time because people saw their lives were better for her struggle, and people loved her for that. She was mighty.
A great story. Thank you.
Thank you, Janette! Glad you enjoyed it.
Ida Wells needs a book and movie made of her life. What a role model. Glad her descendants carry on her work. Great piece.
Yes! Her great-granddaughter helped make a PBS documentary of her life awhile back, but a popular audience could also appreciate her story.
Wonderful story, Tara. I wonder if there are any songs about her. Will have to look into that!
Wow, great question! I hadn’t thought of that. Do you use the Library of Congress folk song archive? I’ll be interested in what you find, yea or nay.
Thank you for mentioning the LoC. I use it to find images, but I didn't know they had a whole section on folk song documentation. I see there are lots of things by Alan Lomax and Charles Seeger. Will have to peruse this further to see what gems I can find!
Oh yes, there might be goodies! 😁
Thank you for your well researched piece. She is not someone I am familiar with but I was interested to read of her and her achievements.
Glad to spread the word about a remarkable writer and tenacious champion of underdogs.
God bless your memory, Ida Wells. Some of that fire in your soul just lit some outrage in mine. No one should ever experience the ugly injustices you suffered, but because of your strength to resist, the world is a little better for all of us.
And thank you, Tara, for reminding us of this extraordinary young woman who, “on her twenty-fifth birthday . . . could say this much about her future: ‘I hunger & thirst after righteousness & knowledge.’” I pray she found her heart's desire.
Wells wrote that journal entry as a prayer. (The quotation comes from a longer entry, quoted in _Ida B. the Queen_.) That may help to account for her marvelous energy. 🙏
Bless her. She was strong and at least a little feisty. From her picture, there’s a hint of good humor. All good traits when fighting evil. The one thing evil cannot abide is being laughed at.
A wonderful story.
It is those who "hunger & thirst after righteousness & knowledge,” along with those who hunger and thirst for beauty and the good, that give this wounded world the hope it needs to keep spinning through space.
Thank you for sharing.
Well said. By now you’d think the spin would have lost a little oomph, but onward we go.
Thank you for this excellent history lesson Tara. Human nature amazes me, that some amazing folks have the depth and capacity to stand by their convictions no matter what. We need reminders of this.
My pleasure! I imagine her parents must have been awfully impressive, too, to have shaped such a character even with their time cut short.
Thank you for this well-researched and referenced article, Tara. I had heard the name, but knew very little about her. How on earth did she keep going through it all? Terrifically inspiring.
I wonder how she managed all of it, too. But I’m sure glad she did!
Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story, Tara. I'd not heard of Ida Wells before. Despite her warm reception in Britain, I'm not aware that she has become a famous figure there, as she clearly deserves.
In the U.S., also, people who know the names of Frederick Douglass and Rosa Parks may not know of Ida Wells. Hopefully, the sustained work of Michelle Duster and others is changing that. Wells is now in some college literature anthologies, which means that future teachers are more likely to read her work. Small steps.
Brilliant woman, and well researched and written account of her contributions to American history. I was also struck by the resemblance between Michelle Duster and her great-grandmother!
Thank you, Elizabeth. I feel just that way about her, too.