Shining a Light on Injustice: Lessons from Ida B. Wells
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Eternal vigilance is essential for liberty. Despite various social movements, there remains a lack of the necessary vigilance to protect our rights. — Ida B. Wells-Barnett, *Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells* (Constitution Foundation, 2018)
Black women have no luxury of viewing America through a lens of optimism. There is no past era in U.S. history worth revisiting, as inequalities have always been a part of our citizenship. For white individuals, America may seem like a cherished democracy, but for Black Americans, it has often resembled an authoritarian regime since its founding. Yet, in the face of these challenges, numerous Black women have risen to prominence by fighting against human rights abuses that undermine our autonomy.
Ida B. Wells' life serves as a guiding light for those involved in the Civil Rights movement. Born in 1862 to enslaved parents, she devoted herself to opposing a system that marginalized Black people. As a Black woman, she faced misogynoir but remained determined to improve the world around her.
The end of slavery post-Civil War laid the groundwork for Wells' impactful journey as an educator, journalist, anti-lynching advocate, community organizer, and suffragist. (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2018)
Her legacy continues to resonate today, particularly as Black women still encounter police violence, both personally and within their families. In recent years, extremist groups promoting white supremacy have become more brazen. Wells' work reminds us to stay focused amidst the violence and disenfranchisement that persists.
"The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them." — Ida B. Wells, The Light of Truth: Writings of an Anti-Lynching Crusader (Staff, 2018)
Every journalist faces a choice regarding their path. For Wells and many Black women, writing became a means of community mobilization, inspiration, and advocacy in a society that often seeks to silence them. She believed that by illuminating the injustices around us, we can compel the public to confront uncomfortable truths.
Journalistic Advocacy
Ida B. Wells initially addressed racial issues in church newsletters, driven by her passion. She later became editor of the Free Speech, a local Memphis newspaper, where she articulated her concerns regarding the dire state of Black schools and communities.
She took a resolute stance against the violation of Black Civil Rights in the South. (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2018)
Wells prioritized transparency and integrity over potential repercussions, leading to her dismissal by the all-white Memphis school board. Following this, she fully committed herself to journalism.
In today's world, the public often relies on self-reported data from police departments and mainstream media. However, Wells teaches us to diligently pursue justice rather than wait for an oppressive system to provide accurate accounts.
Anti-Lynching Advocacy
Lynching, often associated with public hangings, encompasses various forms of extrajudicial killings, including shooting, stabbing, and torture. (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2018)
Every generation of Black Americans has witnessed lynching, leaving deep psychological wounds on the community. One such incident spurred Ida B. Wells into action.
In 1892, a confrontation arose between a white grocery store owner and Black competitors. This tension escalated, culminating in violence when armed Black men defended themselves against a mob. Tragically, the authorities, including the sheriff, sided with the mob, leading to the execution of the Black men involved without due process.
Wells was infuriated by this miscarriage of justice and published an editorial in the Free Speech. While a Grand Jury claimed the perpetrators were "unknown," the people of Memphis knew exactly who was responsible. The denial of accountability is a recurring theme in cases involving Black victims.
Wells asserted that lynching served to maintain white supremacy, explaining that the mob mentality intensified as Black individuals made advances in property, business, and education. (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2018)
Through her writings, she urged thousands of Black families to relocate, with many moving to Oklahoma following the Memphis lynching. This boycott of local businesses significantly harmed the city's economy, provoking anger among white leaders who then attacked the Free Speech’s printing press.
In the face of such hostility, Wells moved north and became the editor and co-owner of the New York Age, where she continued to expose the realities of lynching and other forms of extrajudicial killings.
She published influential works such as Southern Horrors (1892) and The Red Record (1895), which documented lynching incidents and drew national attention to the plight of Black Americans. Her efforts garnered the support of British abolitionists, leading to a series of lectures across the Atlantic in 1893 and 1894. (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2018)
Wells' meticulous reporting included dates, names, and circumstances surrounding each lynching, effectively debunking harmful stereotypes about Black men. Contrary to justifications that framed lynching as a means to protect white women, her research revealed that many victims were innocent or targeted without cause.
She introduced the concept of "spectacle lynchings," which involved large crowds, highlighting the societal complicity in these acts. (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2018)
The same individuals responsible for the brutal dehumanization of Black people through lynching often refrained from naming themselves in white-owned newspapers, refusing to accept responsibility for these atrocities. They perpetuated a belief in Black inferiority long after slavery had ended.
Wells demonstrated the importance of factual evidence, emphasizing the need to speak out against injustices.
Modern Day Implications
Many individuals remain unaware of the prevalence of civil rights violations against Black people. The public execution of George Floyd serves as a contemporary example of lynching, as Officer Derek Chauvin callously kept his knee on Floyd's neck, ignoring his pleas for life.
This reflects a broader pattern of extrajudicial violence, wherein guilt is assumed without recourse to the judicial system.
Ahmaud Arbery was killed while jogging in Georgia, and James Craig Anderson faced a similar fate in Mississippi years ago. (McLaughlin, 2020)
The current state of America is not an improvement; it has simply evolved. During the height of public lynchings, many white Americans turned a blind eye to these atrocities, wrongfully accusing Black men of crimes against white women.
These damaging stereotypes paint Black individuals as inherently dangerous, a narrative that continues to justify violence against them.
Despite bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, Senator Rand Paul and the Republican party resist the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which seeks to classify lynching as a federal crime. The push for criminal justice reform remains stalled.
Black Women Suffragists
Wells held a strong belief in the significance of voting as a means for Black Americans to combat racism. (Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2018)
She recognized that without adequate representation, conditions for Black individuals would remain unchanged. Although some Black women in Northern states gained the right to vote, the 19th Amendment did not ensure voting rights for all Black women. Wells took it upon herself to register and inspire others to exercise their rights.
At a major suffrage parade, organizers decided that Black suffragists would march separately to avoid offending Southern lawmakers. This segregation underscored the fact that the liberation of Black women was not a priority for many white suffragists.
Wells refused to participate in the segregated march, remaining steadfast in her fight for women's rights.
Conclusion
"We never left, so there’s no going back." — Emory University philosophy professor George Yancy (McLaughlin, 2020)
Historically, America has been hostile towards Black people, especially when they voice concerns about injustices. The responsibility to address these issues lies with us, not waiting for mainstream media to highlight them.
In the current racial reckoning, many white individuals deny the existence of racism and its detrimental effects on society. Despite mounting evidence, some continue to reject the harsh realities of systemic anti-Black racism.
As statistics show, one in 1,000 Black men may die at the hands of law enforcement, and many of these deaths are not justified. We must advocate for those whose stories do not make headlines. As John Lewis stated, we need to engage in "good trouble."
"Year after year, statistics are published, yet lynchings persist." — Ida B. Wells (Wells-Barnett, 2018)
In America, we must accurately label these extrajudicial killings as lynchings. In honor of Ida B. Wells, who fought to reveal the harsh truths of these acts, journalists, educators, and citizens must illuminate the injustices that have long plagued this nation.
"A society for investigative reporting bears her name, and the New York Times, which once disparaged her, has recently published a belated obituary. Efforts are underway to name a street in her honor in New York and to erect a monument in Chicago." — (Smith, 2018)
We must boldly confront these injustices without expecting accolades for our efforts. Highlighting the murders committed by white supremacists and police often challenges the prevailing narrative that portrays white individuals as virtuous and law enforcement as heroic. Ida B. Wells exemplified the power of fighting for the Black community, stripping away the denial that allows such brutality to persist.
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References
Constitutional Rights Foundation (Ed.). (2018). Bill of Rights in Action: IDA B. WELLS AND HER CRUSADE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.
Henderson, F. A. (2020, September 24). Understanding the Origins of White Denial. Retrieved October 01, 2020, from https://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/understanding-the-origins-of-white-denial-15281
McLaughlin, E. (2020, June 03). America’s legacy of lynching isn’t all history. Many say it’s still happening today. Retrieved October 01, 2020, from https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/03/us/lynching-america-george-floyd-ahmaud-arbery-breonna-taylor/index.html
Smith, D. (2018, April 27). Ida B Wells: The unsung heroine of the civil rights movement. Retrieved October 01, 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/27/ida-b-wells-civil-rights-movement-reporter
Staff, N. (2018, July 20). The Way to Right Wrongs: Celebrating the Legacy of Ida B. Wells. Retrieved October 01, 2020, from https://www.nypl.org/blog/2018/07/16/way-right-wrongs-celebrating-legacy-ida-b-wells
Wells-Barnett, I. (2018, April 27). ‘Lynching is color-line murder’: The blistering speech denouncing America’s shame. Retrieved October 01, 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/27/ida-b-wells-barnett-national-negro-conference-chicago-speech