I love Ida B. Wells and it has been so much fun reading about her for my Gender Politics class…

A pioneer in the American movement for gender and racial equality, Ida B. Wells used independent media as a tool to confront racial terrorism from 1892-1900. Long before black feminists were writing about intersectionality theory or black feminist thought in the 1980’s and 1990’s, Ida B. Wells used her unique position as an independent journalist to address the intersectional nature of race, class, and gender oppression. Resisting pressure from the mainstream women’s movement and accomodationist black male advocates, Wells crusaded against lynching using honest and courageous investigative reporting. Using the power of her pen to reveal the reasons behind the ritual of lynching in America, Wells defied social norms by placing herself in the public sphere. As a result of her defiance of social convictions, Wells paved the way for future women and African-American activists to affect public opinion and call for change on their terms.

In Southern Horrors and Other Writings: The Anti-Lynching Campaign of Ida B. Wells 1892-1900, Jacqueline Royster explores how Wells challenged accepted gender roles by defining herself as a human with rights and entitlements to education, voice, and personal agency. She writes, “She was challenged to adhere to nineteenth century standards of ‘ladyhood’, modesty, and decorum, and propriety, even as she ventured ever more boldly as an African American woman into the male-dominated public sphere.” Royster goes on to explain how Wells’ movement into the public sphere and her privileged status as an educated black woman positioned her to work for collective progress.

Ida B. Wells promoted justice and truth, defying social standards and legal restrictions. Distinguishing herself from others in her social position, Wells used her education, access to press materials, and prominent contacts to build a movement one editorial and pamphlet at a time.

Wells’ efforts and strategies played a key role in building a foundation for the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s and 70s, in addition to efforts made by the “new” Civil Rights Movement to expose injustice related to Hurricane Katrina and The Jena Six through independent media and grassroots organizing . Wells’ efforts remain relevant because she demonstrated that African Americans and African-American women specifically, could advocate for themselves effectively with their own voices, without accommodating in order to make change. Ida B. Wells’ work serves as an early example of how “bottom-up” grassroots organizing in America can play a significant role in shifting public opinion, pressuring the mainstream media to expose injustice, and affecting international affairs.

She is truely one of the fiercest women to have graced this planet. When I get down and out about the state of affairs, the state of our hearts… the state of how we treat one another… I remember that it is hard to be virtuous… but its the only path to true freedom. The only real path to peace is to have the courage to stand up for what is RIGHT. To be willing to die, to sacrifice, to give…Because no matter what anyone says… there is no real peace without justice. there is no justice without peace.

And Ms. Wells…. She knew this. She was armed with the power of courage, righteousness, words, and a strong will.

When I feel like those swords are up in my face again… I’ll channel her and remember who I am. Why I’m here. What i’m living for. What i’d die for.

In Memory… of Ida B. Wells. A spirit energy I would love to have wrapped around me whenever possible as I move forward. As I love. As I live. As I fight.