Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells was born a slave in Mississippi in 1862. She became free when slavery ended. She grew up to be a teacher and then a newspaper reporter. She used her writing to fight for Black people and for women's rights.

Becoming a Writer

Ida lost her parents to sickness when she was 16. She took care of her brothers and sisters by becoming a teacher. Later she moved to Memphis and started writing for newspapers. She bought part of her own newspaper and told stories no one else would print.

Fighting for Justice

Ida wrote about unfair and cruel treatment of Black Americans. Her office was burned down because people did not like her stories. But she kept writing. She also worked to get women the right to vote and helped start groups like the NAACP.

Fun Facts

• When she was thrown off a train for sitting in the wrong car, she sued the train company and won.
• She marched in a women's rights parade in 1913.
• She was given a special Pulitzer Prize honor in 2020, many years after she died.

Did You Know?

Ida B. Wells helped start the NAACP, which still works for civil rights today.