Women Studies: Ida Wells-Barnett’ Speech Essay

Ladies and gentlemen

Have you ever taken time to think about the significance of African Americans in the history of this great nation? I am sure by now most of us are wondering why we need the ‘Black history’. I understand such questions because I know where we are coming from; however, this history is important for several reasons as explored in this speech. First, the blacks have been part of the American society from the time they entered here through slavery or otherwise.

Such part of history justifies the need to be immersed in the history and stories of African Americans. History shows the far African Americans have come, their experiences, challenges, and potentials in building our society. You will all agree with me that through the powerful application of our strengths we can observe and know our métier with reference to past events.

However, as we may know much concerning the Black history, I am convinced that very few of us have taken time to evaluate and appreciate the contributions of Black women in our society. Well, Ida Wells-Barnett has affected our lives in various ways through her passion for justice.

Born in the mid-1862, Wells-Barnett grew with courage and determination to fight for the rights and justice of the African Americans in the United States (McMurry, p. 73). During this time in history, African Americans suffered various injustices in society ranging from discrimination to denial of universal human rights and segregation. Being born to a slave family did not deter Wells-Barnett from fighting for the rights of the African American community (Schechter, p. 80).

With the enactment of the 13th Amendment in the United States, Wells’ family used the opportunity to pursue education and business (Green, p.132). Nevertheless, Wells’ involvement was fueled by education through which she learned that the Blacks were entitled to equal rights as the Whites (McMurry, p. 78). Although Wells died at the age of 69, she can be described as an ardent and fearless suffragist, journalist, speaker, anti-lynching crusader, and women rights advocate (Green, p. 140).

In the 1880s, Wells officially started her fight against racial and gender discrimination after an encounter with a conductor in one of the railroad’s transport facilities (Schechter, p. 89). Living in an era in which some of the slaves were free, it was illogic for the conductor to ask Wells to give up her seat and vacate the train because the class was meant for the whites.

With the knowledge that the 13th Amendment provided freedom to some slaves, I am convinced that it gave constitutional rights to the freed slaves to enjoy equal treatment and rights as the whites. On the fateful day, Wells purchased a first-class ticket and moved on to occupy the compartment, which was reserved for the whites (Li, Lec. A, 1:24). Her failure to vacate the seat prompted the conductor to drag her out of the train amidst jeers and bullying from the whites (McMurry, p. 126).

With the political and constitutional development at that time, I do not expect such kind treatment from the whites. However, this reaction shows that the whites were yet to do away with gender and racial discrimination. Being legally equal through the 13th Amendment was not a guarantee that the Blacks were entitled to equal treatment as their white counterparts (Li, Film C, 20:52).

Amidst the struggle of challenging the railroad company, which was responsible for the cruelty, Wells won the case against Chesaspeake and the Ohio Railroad Company and the court awarded her $500 in damages (Green, p. 118).

However, toward the end of 1880s, the railroad company appealed, the court reversed its decision, and ordered Wells to return the cash awarded earlier and incur extra $200 to cater for extra expenses. Surely, with the court’s decision, it is clear that constitutional equality meant something quite different from equal treatment (Schechter, p. 111).

The court’s decision in favor of the railroad company did not deter Wells from her campaign against poor treatment of the Blacks in the American society. Prior to the court’s decision, she moved to highlight these injustices through newspaper articles. However, her move to highlight injustices that included segregation in schools got her fired as a teacher, but she channeled her energy and efforts to working for a newspaper owned by an African American entrepreneur (McMurry, p. 114).

In the course of her career as an editor, Wells worked hard and she was elected as the secretary of the Colored Press Association (Schechter, p. 114). The position saw Wells focus her attention on educating African Americans concerning the injustices imposed by white supremacy through simple newspaper articles that were circulated throughout the United States (Schechter, p. 119).

Apart from being a human rights activist, Wells’ achievements highlight some of the successes of the Blacks. Between 1880s and 1890s, most Blacks and especially those from the free slave families, ventured into education, while others emerged as outstanding entrepreneurs.

Perhaps for the fear of the Blacks controlling the American society and economy motivated the Jim Crow system was enacted (Green, p. 206). The system restricted African Americans’ voting rights in addition to restricting their ability to own or establish businesses across the country (McMurry, p. 124). At this point, I believe that this system was among the crucial factors that sparked hate crimes and this problem prevails in the country even in the contemporary times.

After the system was in place, African Americans faced increased violence from the supporters of white supremacy, who believed that they were superior in all ways. Through incriminating African Americans on the grounds of involvement in criminal activities, the whites got an opportunity to murder the Blacks mercilessly through lynching (Li, Lec. B. 8:54).

Nevertheless, the consequences of Jim Crow’s system prepared Wells to venture into the anti-lynching campaign to end such injustices, which depicted not only discrimination, but also a violation of human rights (Schechter, p. 132).

In the wake of 1892, Wells’ close acquaintances were killed after receiving death threats from unknown persons. However, the police ignored the threats and mandated the victims to ensure personal security (McMurry, p. 99). From the officers’ response, it is clear that the

Blacks were not entitled to equal treatment as the Whites, despite the constitution’s move to promote equality (Schechter, p. 148). Perhaps, had it been whites who played victims with Africans as culprits, it would take no time for the police to arrest and convict the culprits in a bid to protect their own. Such argument is evident from the officers’ reaction when a grocery owner shot one of the white attackers during the night ordeal for self-defense.

In the second instance, the police failed to protect the African American entrepreneurs even under their custody. Letting the crowd of angry whites to break into the jail and lynch the three Black entrepreneurs was a sign that the country hardly protected the rights of African Americans.

In addition, eliminating African American entrepreneurs to stop competition was primitive and it posed challenge in promoting capitalism that characterized the country’s economic spirit. In essence, capitalism promotes competition that contributes to the improvement of the quality of the products and services in the market (Klein 107). However, the elimination of competitors is an indication that the whites committed injustice to their country by failing to uphold the capitalist doctrines (Green, p. 216).

For the second time, the Memphis incident galvanized Wells’ determination as she moved to express her views concerning the murder of the three African American entrepreneurs in her free speech. In the speech, Wells noted various challenges in which the Negroes encountered especially in bid to seek justice in the American society (McMurry, p. 117).

First, Africans could neither invest nor protect themselves because in one way or the other, they were deemed to face the wrath of the whites without judicial intervention. Furthermore, the problem of lynching escalated as Africans lacked ways and means to protect themselves for the government restricted their access and handling of firearms. On the contrary, the whites had unlimited access to firearms.

At one point in her speech, Wells depicted desperation and she urged African Americans to save money and move out of the town. However, she was quick to realize that African Americans were unsafe across the country regardless location. Nevertheless, some of the African Americans embraced the idea and left Memphis, whereas others boycotted working or purchasing from premises owned by whites (Schechter, p. 163).

Although Wells’ speech bore fruits through eliciting reaction from the African Americans, that did not mark the end of challenges and injustices. Following her investigative article that highlighted the injustices committed against the three African American entrepreneurs, the whites attacked and burned her newspaper office (McMurry, p. 154). Finally, Wells bowed to pressure and left Memphis for Chicago (McMurry, p. 158).

Earlier on, I referred to Wells’ advice on vacating Memphis as a cowardice action (Schechter, p. 108). However, when it comes to matters of placing life at risk, cowardice acts are justified. After all, who would not love to rescue his or her life in a bid to accomplish higher missions?

Upon moving to Chicago, Wells never gave up, but she continued spearheading her campaigns against the lynching of black people in Memphis and other cities in the southern parts of the country. She continued with exposing fraudulent reasons on which lynching was facilitated (Green, p. 218).

By this time, lynching was a common practice in the south (Schechter, p. 103). At this point, I link the new development to the departure of Wells from Memphis. Perhaps, through her departure, the Americans got the perception that through lynching they could intimidate the African Americans and succeed in driving them out of Memphis.

Back in Chicago, Wells indulged in organizing African American women as she prepared them to fight against injustices committed against them across the country (Hendricks, p.264). On wedding one of the Chicago’s prominent attorneys, Ferdinand Barnett, they ventured into the print media business and started newsprint in a bid to air their concerns on the societal ills at the time.

Through the newspaper, Wells succeeded in exposing the southern vices in the west (Schechter, p. 298). It would be a gross mistake to overlook and underestimate Wells’ contributions in elevating the Niagara movement to NAACP (Giddings, p.3).

From Wells’ contributions in restoring justice in the American society, it is evident that she relied on media significantly to achieve her goals. From the moment Wells started her campaigns against the white supremacy on African Americans, she expressed her resentments, opinions, and solutions through newspaper articles and published speeches, and thus she moved a step further to investing in the media industry. Wells’ close connection with the media highlights how its proper use can introduce positive change in society (Green, p. 186).

In conclusion, Wells played a significant role in fighting against injustices experienced by African Americans in the United States. She remained true to her principled of believing if individuals do not take the imitative to voice their concerns, then no one would speak for them. She led African Americans in condemning fraudulent lynching, and this move that prompted her flight from Memphis to Chicago in bid to protect her life and accomplish her goals.

Apart from participating in the universal suffrage march, Wells also spearheaded the formation of NAACP that dealt with the elevation of the African Americans especially through informing them of their rights (Schechter, p. 117).

Let us relive Wells’ life by condemning some of the injustices and unethical practices that impede democracy in the current society. If we fail to speak against the contemporary societal ills, this great nation might go back to the dark days when racism and segregation were norms. Therefore, let us rise in unison and stand for justice and truth in honor of Wells’ undying efforts. Thank you.

Works Cited

Giddings, Paula. “Missing in Action: Ida, B. Wells, the NAACP, and the Historical Record.” Meridians 1.2 (2001): 1-17. Print.

Green, Robert. Equal Protection and the African American Constitutional Experience: A Documentary History, Westport: Greenwood Press, 2000. Print.

Hendricks, Wanda. “Ida B. Wells-Barnett and the alpha suffrage club of Chicago.” One woman one vote: Rediscovering the woman suffrage movement. Ed. Marjorie Wheeler. Troutdale: NewSage, 1995. 263-276. Print.

Klein, Naomi. The shock doctrine: The rise of disaster capitalism, New York: Picador, 2008. Print.

Li, Jacob. Film C 2015. Web. 21 February 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAygZgHESys&feature=youtu.be>

Li, Jacob. Lecture A 2015. Web. 21 February 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OusNxo-ng7g&feature=youtu.be>

Li, Jacob. Lecture B 2015. Web. 21 February 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQD1YUfPSA4&feature=youtu.be>

McMurry, Linda. To Keep the Waters Troubled: The Life of Ida B. Wells, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. Print.

Schechter, Patricia. Ida B. Wells-Barnett and American Reform, 1880-1930, Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2001. Print.