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Ida B. Wells: Discovering History's Heroes
Ida B. Wells was an African-American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s.
On one fateful train ride from Memphis to Nashville, in May 1884, Wells reached a personal turning point. Having bought a first-class train ticket, she was outraged when the train crew ordered her to move to the car for African Americans. She refused and was forcibly removed from the train—but not before she bit one of the men on the hand. Wells sued the railroad, winning a $500 settlement. However, the decision was later overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
This injustice led Ida B. Wells to pick up a pen to write about issues of race and politics in the South. Using the moniker "Iola," a number of her articles were published in black newspapers and periodicals. Wells eventually became an owner of the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight, and, later, of the Free Speech.
Not every hero is sky-rocketed into immediate fame. Many of them work tirelessly behind the scenes and never become a household name. But their lives and experiences are interesting and, often, their contributions are immeasurable. Such are the heroes whose stories are told in the Discovering History's Heroes series. Learn about a turn-of-the-past-century journalist (Ida B Wells) who led anti-lynching awareness; a Native American doctor (Susan La Flesche Picotte) who was the first person to receive financial aid for professional education; a South African poet (Dennis Brutus) who raised awareness of apartheid; and the astronaut (Michael Collins) who made sure his moon-walking fellow astronauts made it back into the space capsule. ~ Janice
Product Format: | Paperback |
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Brand: | Aladdin Paperbacks |
Grades: | 2-5 |
ISBN: | 9781534424845 |
Length in Inches: | 7.625 |
Width in Inches: | 5.125 |
Height in Inches: | 0.5 |
Weight in Pounds: | 0.25 |