Summary Of The Dismissing Of Problems By Ida B. Wells

Dismissing of Problems Over the past couple of decades, there have been trends of mass casualties, such as lynching and shootings, that have been overlooked or dismissed. This is a result of people focusing on part of a problem rather than the entire problem; thus, leading to the development of ignorance to the truth. Ida B. Wells, an African-American journalist and civil rights leader in the 1890s, led an anti-lynching movement where she released articles criticizing the unjust deaths. One article demonstrated the stunning devastation of the lynching and contained the known reasons for the crimes, which were unreasonable and ridiculous. Putting her life at risk, Ida continued to write articles depicting society, as well as speaking to understanding

Until our society can see things in a larger point of view, and see all sides of a situation, people will continue to neglect the totality. During the late 1800s to the early 1900s, many people, mostly African American, were being lynched by the townspeople for alleged reasons. Mobs of citizens would come together to watch and partake in the horrible crimes, without hesitation. People were dismissing the lynches as if they were purifying the town. Martha Collins wrote a book called Blue Front, where she portrays the racism and mob mentality of those in Cairo, Illinois during this time. “No mistake must be kept clean but color/ crept into their cheeks were never free/ from absent could be seen

Wells was an active leader in the lynching protests and she began an anti-lynching campaign in 1892. (Ida B. Wells Biography) The campaign consisted of articles written by Wells criticizing the extreme deaths of African Americans. She traveled throughout the South to obtain as much information as possible on lynching cases. While doing this, Wells’ life was in danger, she was criticized and threatened by many to where she was no longer able to return home. Later, Wells toured, giving speeches to white people who disagreed with the harmful things, in hopes they would follow and support her in the journey. Ida then established the National Association of Colored Women and was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Along with these accomplishments, she wrote a book entitled The Red Record, depicting the horrific lynching that took place with strong statistics and honest reporting. (Ida B. Wells Biography) The Red Record caught the eyes of many Northerners with little knowledge on the subject. It allowed for others to recognize that a black man did not deserve the outcome given, contrary to the common belief at the time. “A so-called mob out-break is as much a magnificent and grand natural phenomena as a cyclone or an earthquake, or a thunderbolt or a flood is, and it is much more unerring, more just, and more terrible.” (Cairo Redeems Herself 63) From this