Ida B. Wells

First Reporter to Break Story About Lynchings in 1800s South

This week, Sara brings us the story of Ida B. Wells! She worked in Civil Rights all her life, early on suing (and winning!) a railroad company for forcing her to vacate her seat so that white people could sit down. She’s also the woman who ventured into the Southern states during a time of mass-lynchings to investigate the epidemic of unreported hate crimes. Her work made people in the Northern United States aware that the hate crimes were happening, and that they were targeting successful black businesspeople under the guise of various made-up charges.