If you are looking for an overview of the extraordinary life of Ida B. Wells, this is the book for you. It’s told by her great-granddaughter Michelle Duster. It’s an account of the deterioration, strong will, and fight of Ida B. Wells in a male-dominated era. It also highlights slights by heralded African Americans such as Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. The way Wells took on issues as a female journalist in a time where a woman journalist was unheard of, is amazing. Wells focused on one of the most horrific acts in American history–lynching. She meticulously researched and reported on these gruesome atrocities at the risk of her own life. And this barely scratches the surface.
The only downside to this Book is that it’s pretty much a condensed version of Ida B. Wells’ autobiography, Crusade for Justice. However, the author does spend some parts of the book identifying how she sees some of her great-grandmother’s traits in herself, placing Wells in the context of history more than the autobiography does.
Bottom line: it’s a good read and account of the life, times, and courage of one of the most powerful African Americans who doesn’t get nearly as much credit for her role in our journey as she should!
Featured image background photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash.