Biography of Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells is one of the most iconic African American women reformists that boldly challenged social injustices and demand for equality. She was raised in Holy Springs, Mississippi that was freed from slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation. Granted educational opportunities her enthusiasm to learn and the search for the truth grew which led her to many achievements on being a teacher, businesswomen, newspaper columnist, and investigative journalist. The best achievement though was her international anti-lynching campaign that increased awareness for change. Ida B. Wells was able to succeed in her activist’s efforts through her courageous nobility instilled by her parents, the oppression and violence she saw African Americans faced during and after Reconstruction, and her drive to implement change on the standards of gender and women’s rights.

Ida was a child of six that was under the protective care of James and Elizabeth Wells. Her parents were former slaves and became highly respected people of the community. James was a carpenter and to secure his civil liberties as a freed man he became involved in politics, was a Mason, and member of the Board of Trustees of Shaw University. Elizabeth was a nurturing mother that disciplined Ida on proper behavior, how to treat others with respect, and encouraged her to go to school. They were hard workers and served as great role models for Ida for they, “instilled in their daughter a keen sense of duty to God, family, and community” (Royster 1996, 15). Until the day they died, Ida watched her parents constantly work in bettering the political and economic conditions. Although Yellow fever took the life of her parents, their teachings made young Ida confident in her abilities to provide for her family. She supported her family through teaching and to uphold the ideals her parents taught, Ida developed a sense of responsibility for the community.

After the Civil War ended, southern states entered into the...