Racism And Discrimination: Ida B. Wells
Racism and discrimination has been prevalent in the United States since its formation. It has been expressed through several different forms including intimidation, hate groups, violence and etc. However, regardless of how it is expressed, the goal of racism and discrimination is often to oppress a group of people while attempting to prove the superiority of another. The African American community has been victimized since America has been founded. From slavery to institutionalized racism, African Americans have always dealt with living in a white society. Despite this, African Americans have always advocated for themselves and for others. One woman in particular, Ida B. Wells, advocated for African Americans throughout her life and continued
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One method that was utilized in particular by whites and hate groups were lynching. Many of these lynchings took place within the deep south including: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana and many other places. However, many of these lynchings were public and often celebrated by those who did not support the African American cause. As well as, many of those involved in these public lynchings went unpunished by the local law enforcement. One infamous case in particular that demonstrates the injustice African Americans endured was the Jesse Washington lynching. In 1916, in Waco Texas, Washington was accused of killing white women. During his trial, a jury of twelve white women deliberated only for four minutes before returning a guilty verdict. Before officers could come and jail him, a mob of white spectators threw a chain around his neck, dragged him to City hall, hung and burned Washington in public view. Events like these were the reason that Ida B Wells spoke and exposed the injustice done to African Americans. Despite receiving death threats, Wells became the most prominent anti-lynching campaigner. Throughout her career, she was mostly advocating alone in her fight to raise awareness about the lynchings and unpunished murders occurring. In her articles, she underscored the fact that many of these unpunished murders were don’t to intimidate and suppress blacks in order to prevent them from voting and having a political voice. Revealing the wrongful deaths that were occurring, Wells truly helped the African American movement, by not only exposing but inspiring others to step up about the wrongs that they have seen and
One method that was utilized in particular by whites and hate groups were lynching. Many of these lynchings took place within the deep south including: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana and many other places. However, many of these lynchings were public and often celebrated by those who did not support the African American cause. As well as, many of those involved in these public lynchings went unpunished by the local law enforcement. One infamous case in particular that demonstrates the injustice African Americans endured was the Jesse Washington lynching. In 1916, in Waco Texas, Washington was accused of killing white women. During his trial, a jury of twelve white women deliberated only for four minutes before returning a guilty verdict. Before officers could come and jail him, a mob of white spectators threw a chain around his neck, dragged him to City hall, hung and burned Washington in public view. Events like these were the reason that Ida B Wells spoke and exposed the injustice done to African Americans. Despite receiving death threats, Wells became the most prominent anti-lynching campaigner. Throughout her career, she was mostly advocating alone in her fight to raise awareness about the lynchings and unpunished murders occurring. In her articles, she underscored the fact that many of these unpunished murders were don’t to intimidate and suppress blacks in order to prevent them from voting and having a political voice. Revealing the wrongful deaths that were occurring, Wells truly helped the African American movement, by not only exposing but inspiring others to step up about the wrongs that they have seen and