Black History Month Biography: Ida B. Wells-Barnett

The name of Ida Wells-Barnett is seldom ever evoked when people discuss modern civil rights activism in the United States, but she could be described as one of its earliest pioneers. She was a fierce advocate for women's rights as well.

Born to slaves in Holly Springs, Mississippi on July 16, 1862, she was the oldest of 8 children. Her parents were eventually able to achieve their freedom and became actively involved in Republican politics. One must remember that more blacks were drawn during those days to the Republican Party, because it was the party of Abraham Lincoln, whom many revered because they credited him with emancipating them from slavery.

Tragedy struck when Ida's parents and a brother died of yellow fever when she was 16-years-old. In order to keep her siblings from being separated, she got a teaching position at a local black school. She later moved to Memphis, Tennessee to teach.

It was in Memphis that an incident began her activism. She had bought a first-class railroad ticket, but was ordered to sit in the "black" section, which had no first-class area. After refusing and putting up a spirited fight when the conductor tried to force her to leave the "white" section, she was forcibly ejected. Like Rosa Parks, who came much later, she was not about to let what she felt were her personal rights be infringed upon. During those days, it was a very dangerous enterprise to disregard Jim Crow restrictions, but the determined Ida sued for her mistreatment and actually won in a lower court. Her victory, however, was short lived, because the decision was later reversed.