Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, a Holly Springs, Mississippi native, was a journalist, newspaper editor, suffragist and sociologist. She documented lynching in the United States to expose its use as a mechanism to control and punish blacks who competed with whites. In 1884, 80 years before Rosa Parks, Wells bought a first class “ladies’ car” train ticket in Memphis, Tennessee and refused to move from it when she was ordered to go to the smoker car. She was forcibly removed. This incident led her to work fearlessly for the rights of women and people of color. In 1909, Wells became one of two women to sign the call to form the NAACP.
Local actor Krystal Jackson portrays Wells-Barnett in the upcoming production, “Walking in Their Footsteps,” on Wednesday, March 16, at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Tougaloo College in the Bennie G. Thompson Center Auditorium. A Q&A follows the 10:00 a.m. program. The performance is free of charge. Please share this post and upcoming ones on your timelines. Thank you for your support! #womenshistorymonth #blackhistory#blackhistoryplus #blackhistory365