Ida B. Wells-Barnett-African American Journalist and Activist

Ida B. Wells-Barnett was born on July 16, 1862 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Her father was a skilled carpenter and her mother was cook. Ida's parents were very strict and religious. They took education seriously and wanted their children to take advantage of having the opportunity to go to school. 

Ida's struggles with racial discrimination caused her devote her life to eliminating this inequality. 

At the age of 14, Ida's parents and little brother died from yellow fever. To keep her family together, Ida took a teaching job and attending Rust College to further her education. In 1884, Ida was 

forcefully removed from a train due to her race, despite the 1875 Civil Rights Act. This was the first of many racial discrimination acts Ida endured during her life. In 1892, Ida's three friends were lynched, which caused Ida to spend the rest of her life working to end injustice towards colored people. 

Ida's many accomplishments were caused by her strong passion towards ending discrimination.

Later in her career, Ida created an anti-lynching campaign, the National Association of Colored Woman, the national Afro-American Council, and the Women's Era Club. She was a newspaper editor and owner, an African American journalist, a women's rights activist, a skilled rhetorician, and a civil rights leader.