Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells: The Legacy of a Trailblazing Activist

By MyKayla Williams & Chloe Hill

When you think about icons of social justice, who comes to mind? For anyone passionate about progress, Ida B. Wells should be at the top of that list. A journalist, activist, and unapologetic advocate for equality, Wells's story isn’t just history—it’s a masterclass in courage, strategy, and the power of using your voice.

Born into slavery in 1862, Wells grew up during Reconstruction, a period that held the promise of equality for African Americans. But when systemic racism reared its ugly head again, Wells refused to stay silent. She became one of the most prominent voices of her time, dismantling injustice through her words and actions.

Her journey as an activist began in Memphis, Tennessee, where Wells took a stand against one of the most egregious injustices of the era—lynching. After her close friends were brutally murdered in 1892 for daring to challenge the status quo by opening a successful Black-owned business, Wells was galvanized into action. She turned her pain into purpose, investigating and reporting on the widespread horrors of lynching in the United States. Through her groundbreaking pamphlets like Southern Horrors and The Red Record, she exposed the truth: lynching wasn’t about justice or punishment but rather a calculated tool to uphold white supremacy and economic dominance.

Wells’s activism extended beyond journalism. In 1893, she challenged the exclusion of African Americans from the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. She partnered with Frederick Douglass and others to co-author The Reason Why the Colored American Is Not in the World’s Columbian Exposition, a pamphlet that exposed the racism embedded in the event and celebrated the achievements of African Americans despite systemic oppression. This bold move not only amplified the voices of marginalized people but also forced the public to confront the contradictions of an America claiming progress while denying basic rights to Black citizens.

Her passion for justice also intersected with the women’s suffrage movement. In 1913, at the Women’s Suffrage Parade in Washington, D.C., organizers tried to segregate Black women by relegating them to the back. Wells refused. Instead, she boldly joined her Illinois delegation mid-march, defying the discriminatory practices of the suffragist movement and asserting her right to equality in all spaces. Her actions challenged the hypocrisy of a movement that claimed to fight for women’s equality while often excluding Black women.

Why does Ida B. Wells matter to us today? Because her legacy reminds us that change doesn’t come from complacency. It comes from bold, fearless action. Wells’s life proves that you don’t need to be popular to be powerful; you just need to be committed to the truth.

For collegiate organizations, Wells serves as a timeless role model. Whether you’re organizing events, raising awareness, or mobilizing for social change, her story is proof that one voice—when backed by courage—can inspire a movement. As students and future leaders, channel the spirit of Ida B. Wells: question the status quo, speak truth to power, and never underestimate the impact of your work.

Your voice can echo through history, just like hers.

References:

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/ida-a-sword-among-lions?variant=40938835403202

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/to-keep-the-waters-troubled-9780195095031?cc=us&lang=en&