Ida B. Wells was born into slavery in Mississippi in 1862, during a time of intense racism and violence in the South.
After the Civil War, Jim Crow laws stripped African Americans of rights like voting and land ownership. One of the harshest forms of racial terror was lynching, or mob killings used to intimidate Black communities without legal consequences.
Racially-motivated lynchings in U.S. map
(Courtesy of Equal Justice Initiative)
Women protesting for their right to vote, 1912.
(Courtesy of Library of Congress)
The women's rights movement was active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Women fought for voting rights and equality but faced significant opposition from the men in power. Women's voices were often silenced, yet leaders like Wells began to push back, taking on the responsibilities of demanding racial and gender equality.
Jim Crow laws enforced strict segregation in schools, and most African American students attended schools that were underfunded, overcrowded, and lacked quality resources compared to white schools.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities were founded to offer higher education opportunities to African Americans.
Cheyney University
(Courtesy of Parkside Journal)