Ida B. Wells
UNSUNG HERO. Though she is not Fredrick Douglas or Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells was an extremely influential figure in the Civil Rights Era. Fighting for equality for African Americans, she helped to ban lynching or the act of killing without legal trial.
Born into slavery during the final period of the Civil War, Ida B. Wells was always devoted to education and political activism. She was so passionate that after the end of the war, Wells pursued a career in teaching. However, after being kicked off of a first class train car, despite having a ticket, she shifted her sights to African American activism, writing several articles and a pamphlet on lynching, or the act of killing someone without a legal trial. She traveled all over the world, speaking out and voicing the pain that her community was going through. Though she was slammed with criticism and often ridiculed for her beliefs, Wells remained unphased and continued to pave the way for equal rights in the United States. She may be one of the unsung heroes of the Civil War, but her actions were a major splash for equality, and the ripples are still felt today.
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