Ida B. Wells

 You wouldn’t believe what happened to me. Couldn’t imagine. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the kind of day you cant even fathom, a situation that you could  see happening to anyone else besides you. As I’m sitting on the train, resting just glad to be off my feet from teaching. The conductor comes up to me and asks me to give up MY seat, MY SEAT that I paid for, to a white man!! And orders me to the smokers car. Well there's just no way I'm giving up my seat that I have a right to. So I look him dead in the eyes and tell him no. After all i was in the ladies car. This man attempted to grab me by arms and drag me out my seat!! So I chomped down on his hand, and then he got two other men to help him and threw me off the train. He succeeded in getting me off the train but he certainly couldn't keep me out of the court. I went to the local circuit court and not only sued the railroad company but won too. 
This was the event that set off my career in journalism. To my surprise there were many people who wanted to hear my story, and my reasoning for not getting off. I then got a job with the newspaper "Free Speech and Headlight" this allowed me to educate people within my black community not just those in a class room. I guess I should back up and start at the beginning of my story. If I’m going to leave a little of my history behind I should probably make sure it’s correct. To whoever is reading this, my name is Ida. B Wells. I was born on July 16, 1862 in Mississippi. At the time of course I didn’t know it but I’d been born during the second year of the Civil War. Momma and Daddy were slaves, and of course this meant so was I. I’d have to say Daddy is where I got my love of politics and passion for change from.  

When I was little he’d read to me. Anything he could get his hands on or point to: newspapers, signs, ads, books, ingredients on things while momma’s cooking in the kitchen. Us getting our education was always important to them. I guess that’s why I had such a knack for teaching. Funny how his guidance continues to stayed with me even after he was gone.When my parents passed away I knew I had to find a way to provide for my siblings so with a little encouragement and strength I decided to apply for a teaching job in the country. I was young, very young and knew I’d have to alter myself a bit to even get them to let me in to apply. So I swept my hair up, hemmed one of momma’s dresses to fit me, mentally took on the mind of a woman and left the teenager behind. And I passed!!! Oh I passed.. I rem. the feeling like it was yesterday!! 

Me, a 16 year old girl teaching children. Daddy would be so proud. Although the position was in six miles into the country I still found time to care for sisters and brothers. During the week while I went away to teach, friends and family would come and take turns caring for the children. And my weekends were devoted to them: cooking, cleaning, and ironing. I never knew what meant it to be a caretaker and a provider until my parents passed away.  It was this route that I traveled back and forth on the train during the weekends that I got thrown off of.  Now that I've caught you up to the current place where I began my letter I'll continue where I left off. As I began my writing career with the newspaper I was offered part ownership and soon gained full possession of it. The main focus of all my articles was the injustice that we as an African-American race experience daily. I wasn't the only one to get thrown off a train or deal with some type of discrimination. It continues to be an everyday thing. 
Lynching was also a main topic that I felt necessary to speak out against in my literature. In 1892 three of my amazing well educated and successful friends were lynched and killed and their businesses torn down. I immediately publicized the situation and wrote about the horrible tragedy. Of course the whites didn't take too kindly to this and threatened to kill me if I ever came back to town. Yet again another obstacle was thrown in my way, but my voice couldn't be silenced. I just continued writing from a different location under another name. If you step away from this article with only one thing. Let it be to never let anyone regardless of race take your voice. Speak out for what you believe in. Although it's not often seen this way, it's not a crime to take a stance and fight to correct injustice. Despite what others think I am NOT a criminal, I am a human being like everyone else demanding what I deserve... EQUALITY.
                                                        Love, "Iola"