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Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells, Second Edition by Ida B. Wells-Barnett
suebrownreads's review against another edition
4.0
Truly an amazing woman. I really didn't know much about her before listening to this book, and I am awed at her energy and dedication to uplift her race. Truly an inspiration! And I had no idea that she was the one who started many of the organizations that are still around today including the NAACP, but many others too.
archytas's review against another edition
3.75
"Our understanding overflows with larger-than-life tales of monumental men who, we are left to assume, changed the course of human civilization through sheer willpower. This book is not that. This is a book about a woman who sometimes did not have child care, who went on the road when she would rather have stayed home, who constantly fretted over fundraising, who sometimes offended people and sometimes was offended, who got seasick, who was told she would be nominated for a committee only to find out that W. E. B. Du Bois had removed her name from the roll without bothering to consult anyone. Ida B. Wells was a muckraker, and this is part of the muck." Preface by Eva L Ewing
When I was younger, my disdain for more recent history meant I pretty much stopped reading about the USA after the Reconstruction period, and as a result I missed out on a lot of the wonder that is Ida B Wells-Barnett. This autobiography was written as a longhand manuscript by this most accomplished journalist, and you can feel the words tumbling over themselves as Wells-Barnett gets across so much of what she wants to say. From a childhood in the middle of reconstruction, to an adolescence dominated by parenting her siblings, through to her drift into activism.
Some of the most interesting material deals with motherhood, and the challenges of combining this with activism. Wells-Barnett is assertive in promoting motherhood, and in regarding it as a profession in its own right, with as much skill and time required as being a teacher or a journalist. She acknowledges her own initial ambivalence about the state - and implies, interestingly, that marraige was in part a result of her exhaustion and inability to make an income from her political work - but has a converts zeal in encouraging other women to try it. It is also interesting that others, notably Susan B. Anthony, seek to encourage her to avoid such commitments, given the inevitable cost to her work. There is such a mess of class, racial and gendered positioning in all this.
The book drags a bit in places - a lengthy section in the middle is too directly cribbed from her speeches and articles given in England and towards the end she focuses on internal politicing within organisations a little - but on the whole, this is an accessible and empassioned call for a life in service to others.
When I was younger, my disdain for more recent history meant I pretty much stopped reading about the USA after the Reconstruction period, and as a result I missed out on a lot of the wonder that is Ida B Wells-Barnett. This autobiography was written as a longhand manuscript by this most accomplished journalist, and you can feel the words tumbling over themselves as Wells-Barnett gets across so much of what she wants to say. From a childhood in the middle of reconstruction, to an adolescence dominated by parenting her siblings, through to her drift into activism.
Some of the most interesting material deals with motherhood, and the challenges of combining this with activism. Wells-Barnett is assertive in promoting motherhood, and in regarding it as a profession in its own right, with as much skill and time required as being a teacher or a journalist. She acknowledges her own initial ambivalence about the state - and implies, interestingly, that marraige was in part a result of her exhaustion and inability to make an income from her political work - but has a converts zeal in encouraging other women to try it. It is also interesting that others, notably Susan B. Anthony, seek to encourage her to avoid such commitments, given the inevitable cost to her work. There is such a mess of class, racial and gendered positioning in all this.
The book drags a bit in places - a lengthy section in the middle is too directly cribbed from her speeches and articles given in England and towards the end she focuses on internal politicing within organisations a little - but on the whole, this is an accessible and empassioned call for a life in service to others.
erikaslitlife's review
I might read it another time. I found out the book ends mid-sentence and was never officially finished.
marinav13's review against another edition
5.0
The life of a woman born into slavery who shone the light of truth on injustices no matter what lynch-happy mob was trying to run her out of town. Inspiring and well-told, by Ida B. Wells herself. She was truly the... Beyonce-Oprah-Nikole Hannah Jones-Ava of her time, and she did not suffer any fools. My jaw is still dropped thinking of her friendship and work with and recollections of Frederick Douglass. Why is there no HBO movie/series yet of this autobiography? Imagine, her and Frederick running around the Chicago World Fair, demanding attention to the plight of black people despite a lack of recognition from fair organizers. Imagine, Ida as a new mother, traveling the lecture circuit trying to stoke moral outrage against lynching. Someone out there, make this happen.
carlybarly6's review against another edition
4.0
Ida B. Wells was an extraordinary woman who was led by integrity and her pursuit of justice. A teacher, an investigative journalist, a civil rights leader, a politician, a wife, a mother, an anti-lynching advocate — and always, a truth-teller. Best known for her anti-lynching writings and speaking, Wells’ research revealed that what white people had claimed to have been killings of self-defense were actually motivated by economic competition — where Black people’s successes were competing with those of white people. Regardless of people’s wishes that she would cater her words to be more palpable, Wells would publish and speak out against lynching candidly and truthfully. Wells was also a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, and challenged the racism within that movement where white women excluded non-white women (though their contribution to the cause was invaluable). Whether supporting grassroots organizations or speaking with national organizations, Wells was unrelenting in integrity and truth-telling. A woman of great intelligence, heart, and courage, her autobiography is an astounding recounting of a life lead greatly — and as a nation and as individuals, we’re all the better for it.
blackqueenswhoread's review against another edition
5.0
Strong. Leader. Vocal. Bold. Activist. Ida B. Wells was a force to be reckon with.
As a Black journalist, Civil Rights Activist, and Anti-lynch crusader, Wells dominated the LEADER role in EVERY role she took on. She was very vocal against the Board Of Education as she stood up against educational inequality against the Black youth.
Wells, faced much criticism from her own culture. She nevertheless, continued to speak out against injustice, oppression, inequality, and much more, no matter who didn’t accept or agree with her views.
A voice that threatened the functions of any type of unjust behaviors, she will always be apart of our history and apart of our Black culture of Women leaders.
I highly recommend adding Ida. B. Wells to your diverse reads if you want an authentic piece of history, spoken from an African American woman who challenged societal and political norms.
As a Black journalist, Civil Rights Activist, and Anti-lynch crusader, Wells dominated the LEADER role in EVERY role she took on. She was very vocal against the Board Of Education as she stood up against educational inequality against the Black youth.
Wells, faced much criticism from her own culture. She nevertheless, continued to speak out against injustice, oppression, inequality, and much more, no matter who didn’t accept or agree with her views.
A voice that threatened the functions of any type of unjust behaviors, she will always be apart of our history and apart of our Black culture of Women leaders.
I highly recommend adding Ida. B. Wells to your diverse reads if you want an authentic piece of history, spoken from an African American woman who challenged societal and political norms.