Ida Bell Wells was born into slavery in Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1862. She became famous for her work as an anti-lynching activist and investigative journalist after three of her friends were lynched in Memphis, Tennessee in 1892. Wells went on to write for black newspapers under the pen name "Iola" and later owned two newspapers, using them to criticize issues of race and politics in the South. She was also a teacher and vocal critic of segregated schools in Memphis, getting fired in 1891 due to her criticism. Wells' life and work spanned the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras and focused on fighting against racism and racial injustice through journalism and activism.

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Ida wells
By: Jillian Mayhew

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Are talking points
* Where Ida lived and her family members
* Reason why Ida is famous
* Ida’s life spanned

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Where Ida lived and
her family members
.
Ida Bell Wells was born in Holly Springs,
Mississippi on July 16th, 1862. She was
the oldest daughter of James and Lizzie
Wells. She was born into slavery during
the Civil War. Once the war ended Wells-
Barnett’s parents became politically active
in Reconstruction Era politics. Her
parents instilled into her the importance of
education.

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Reason why Ida is
famous
Following this incident, Wells began writing
about issues of race and politics in the South.
Using the name "Iola", Wells had several of
her articles published in black newspapers
and periodicals. She later became an owner
of two newspapers: The Memphis Free
Speech and Headlight and Free Speech. In
addition to working as a journalist and
publisher, Wells worked as a teacher in a
segregated public school in Memphis. She
was a vocal critic of the condition of
segregated schools in the city and was fired
from her job in 1891 because of her criticism.

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Great Idea!