Ida B Wells - Teacher, Activist, Anti-Lynching Crusader

BioGraphics - True Biographies & History's Most Fascinating PeopleFriday, October 23, 2026

Summary

Ida B. Wells emerges as a pivotal figure in the fight for civil rights, particularly against lynching in America. Born into slavery in Mississippi in 1862, Wells's early life is marked by tragedy when she loses both parents to a yellow fever epidemic at the age of 16. Taking on the responsibility of caring for her siblings, she begins her career as a teacher before moving to Memphis, where she becomes an influential journalist and activist. Her work at the Evening Star and later as co-owner of the Free Speech and Headlight newspaper allows her to challenge Jim Crow laws and highlight the injustices faced by African Americans.

Wells's activism intensifies following the lynching of her friend Thomas Moss and two others in 1892, which she investigates and publicizes. Her pamphlet "Southern Horrors" exposes the false narratives surrounding lynchings, particularly the myth that they were justified by accusations of assault against white women. This work positions her as a leading voice in the anti-lynching movement, and she continues to advocate for civil rights throughout her life, including involvement in the suffrage movement and the founding of the Alpha Suffrage Club in Chicago.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including the societal expectations of women and the political landscape of her time, Wells remains committed to her causes. She becomes a founding member of the NAACP but later distances herself due to dissatisfaction with its leadership. Her legacy endures as she fights for justice until her death in 1931, with her contributions to civil rights and the anti-lynching crusade continuing to resonate in contemporary discussions about race and justice in America.

Show Notes

Ida B Wells - Teacher, Protester, Anti-Lynching Crusader

7 Apr 2025

---

#history #biography #protest

→ Subscribe for new videos at least twice a week! https://www.youtube.com/c/biographics?sub_confirmation=1

Love content? Check out our other YouTube Channels:

Geographics: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKRfxkMTqiiv4pF99qGKIw TopTenz: https://www.youtube.com/user/toptenznet

Eric's Links:

Cosmic Horror Ebook: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/1cw07o2uyb

Storyrant: https://www.youtube.com/@storyrant

OEI Analog Horror Experiment: https://www.youtube.com/@officeofextradimensionalint

Grimdark Magazine #39: GdM's catalogue page for the issue is here: https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/product/grimdark-magazine-39/ Subscriptions available here: https://www.patreon.com/GrimdarkMagazine

Karl's Socials: Fact Fiend: https://www.youtube.com/ @FactFiend Wiki Weekends: https://www.youtube.com/ @wikiweekends Untitled Side Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ @untitledsidechannel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarlSmallwood

More from BioGraphics - True Biographies & History's Most Fascinating People

Oct 23, 2026

Dean Martin: The Master of Cool

Dean Martin: The King of Cool

Oct 23, 2026

Bonnie and Clyde: America's Most Notorious Criminal Couple

Bonnie and Clyde: America's Most Notorious Criminal CoupleUploaded 17-03-2117 Mar 2021---Download the app now and use code BIOGRAPHICS and get 4000 points on your first receipt! → https://fetch.thld.co/biographics→ Subscribe for new videos at least twice a week!https://www.youtube.com/c/biographics?sub_confirmation=1Love content? Check out Simon's other YouTube Channels:Geographics: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKRfxkMTqiiv4pF99qGKIwMegaProjects: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0woBco6Dgcxt0h8SwyyOmwSideProjects: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Wn3dABlgESm8Bzn8VamggCasual Criminalist: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1tsmksyf6TgKFMdt8-05QTopTenz: https://www.youtube.com/user/toptenznetToday I Found Out: https://www.youtube.com/user/TodayIFoundOutHighlight History: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnb-VTwBHEV3gtiB9di9DZQXPLRD: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVH8lH7ZLDUe_d9mZ3dlyYQBusiness Blaze: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYY5GWf7MHFJ6DZeHreoXgwSimon's Social Media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimonWhistlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonwhistler/This video is #sponsored by Fetch Rewards.Source/Further reading:https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-irresistible-bonnie-parker-59411903/https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/03/29/bonnie-clyde-were-depression-era-kardashians-glamorous-also-murderous/https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/barrow-clyde-chesnuthttps://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/bonnie-and-clyde/https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/on-the-trail-of-bonnie-and-clydehttps://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-bonnie-and-clydehttps://www.biography.com/crime-figure/bonnie-parkerhttps://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/bonnie-and-clyde-syndrome-why-some-women-are-attracted-to-men-like-paul-bernardo-1.1898895https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/what-is-hybristophiliahttps://www.legendsofamerica.com/20th-bonnieclyde/https://www.odmp.org/officer/9549-deputy-sheriff-eugene-capell-moorehttps://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/bonnie-and-clyde#:~:text=Clyde%20was%20paroled%20in%20February,and%20several%20robberies%20and%20burglaries.https://texashideout.tripod.com/wd1.jpghttps://www.historynet.com/bonnie-clydes-revenge-on-eastham.htmhttps://books.google.ro/books?id=i4UcDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT446&lpg=PT446&dq=Each+of+us+six+officers+had+a+shotgun+and+an+automatic+rifle+and+pistols.+We+opened+fire+with+the+automatic+rifles.+They+were+emptied+before+the+car+got+even+with+us.+Then+we+used+shotguns.&source=bl&ots=F2Lt0XyG9l&sig=ACfU3U3TYtYC6bW-JCSFkERbLw0Fi2EJSw&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Each%20of%20us%20six%20officers%20had%20a%20shotgun%20and%20an%20automatic%20rifle%20and%20pistols.%20We%20opened%20fire%20with%20the%20automatic%20rifles.%20They%20were%20emptied%20before%20the%20car%20got%20even%20with%20us.%20Then%20we%20used%20shotguns.&f=falsehttps://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/05/23/bonnie-and-clydes-bullet-riddled-death-car-is-on-display-at-whiskey-petes-casino-in-primm-nevada/https://allpoetry.com/The-Trail's-End Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2026

Walt Whitman: America's Poet

Walt Whitman: America's PoetUploaded 16-06-2216 Jun 2022---Get 50% OFF your first 6-bottle box at http://brightcellars.com/biographics for a total of only $55 including shipping! Bright Cellars is the monthly wine club that matches you with wine that you'll love. Get started by taking the taste palate quiz to see your personalized matches.This video is #sponsored by Brightcellars.→ Subscribe for new videos at least twice a week!https://www.youtube.com/c/biographics?sub_confirmation=1Love content? Check out Simon's other YouTube Channels:Geographics: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKRfxkMTqiiv4pF99qGKIwWarographics: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9h8BDcXwkhZtnqoQJ7PggAMegaProjects: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0woBco6Dgcxt0h8SwyyOmwSideProjects: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Wn3dABlgESm8Bzn8VamggInto The Shadows: https://www.youtube.com/c/IntotheShadowsTopTenz: https://www.youtube.com/user/toptenznetToday I Found Out: https://www.youtube.com/user/TodayIFoundOutHighlight History: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnb-VTwBHEV3gtiB9di9DZQBusiness Blaze: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYY5GWf7MHFJ6DZeHreoXgwCasual Criminalist: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheCasualCriminalistDecoding the Unknown: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZdWrz8pF6B5Y_c6Zi6pmdQSimon's Social Media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimonWhistlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonwhistler/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2026

The Axeman of New Orleans: The Killer Who Loved Jazz

The Axeman of New Orleans: The Killer Who Loved JazzUploaded 12-04-2112 Apr 2021---Check out Squarespace: http://squarespace.com/BIOGRAPHICS for 10% off on your first purchase. → Subscribe for new videos at least twice a week!https://www.youtube.com/c/biographics?sub_confirmation=1Love content? Check out Simon's other YouTube Channels:Geographics: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKRfxkMTqiiv4pF99qGKIwMegaProjects: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0woBco6Dgcxt0h8SwyyOmwSideProjects: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Wn3dABlgESm8Bzn8VamggCasual Criminalist: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp1tsmksyf6TgKFMdt8-05QTopTenz: https://www.youtube.com/user/toptenznetToday I Found Out: https://www.youtube.com/user/TodayIFoundOutHighlight History: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnb-VTwBHEV3gtiB9di9DZQXPLRD: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVH8lH7ZLDUe_d9mZ3dlyYQBusiness Blaze: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYY5GWf7MHFJ6DZeHreoXgwSimon's Social Media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimonWhistlerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonwhistler/This video is #sponsored by Squarespace.Source/Further reading:https://www.legendsofamerica.com/la-axeman/https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/vintage/article_14f43f27-1cb0-505e-a0b6-9814d6b13172.html#:~:text=Joseph%20and%20Katherine%20Maggio%2C%20who,a%20century%20ago%20this%20month.&text=Joseph%20and%20Katherine%20Maggio%20were,night%20of%20May%2022%2C%201918.http://www.neworleanspast.com/todayinneworleanshistory/october_27.htmlhttps://books.google.ro/books?dq=june+28,+1919+besumer&hl=en&id=gijG7fSwvjAC&lpg=PA275&ots=KP6FHWaFzz&pg=PA275&sa=X&sig=7u9JUR_EJXs46a1_nbWUCLP-y4o&source=bl&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=june%2028%2C%201919%20besumer&f=falsehttps://www.unsolvedcasebook.com/the-axeman-of-new-orleans-the-jazz-loving-serial-killer/https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetailpre1989.aspx?caseid=406https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/axeman-new-orleans-preyed-italian-immigrants-180968037/https://www.openculture.com/2018/10/story-axeman-new-orleans-serial-killer-loved-jazz.htmlhttps://www.hnoc.org/mysterious-axman%E2%80%99s-jazz-don%E2%80%99t-scare-me-papahttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/83241/ax-man-new-orleans-jazz-loving-serial-killerhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/unsolvednotes/notes-for-unsolved-the-terrifying-axeman-of-new-orleanshttps://web.archive.org/web/20080813124217/http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/weird/axeman/9.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2026

Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen: A Notorious International Murder Mystery

Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen: A Notorious Transatlantic Murder Mystery

See all episodes →