March 31, 2020
Ida B. Wells: She Fought for Fairness
It took courage for Ida B. Wells to speak out against hate and prejudice, but that’s exactly what she did. Wells was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1862. Her parents were slaves, so she was a slave, too. But before her first birthday, Ida was freed by Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Although she and her family members had been freed, they probably didn’t notice much difference because life was so hard.
When she was 16, Ida’s parents died of Yellow Fever. To keep her brothers and sisters together, she supported her family by teaching school. To find better opportunities, she moved her family to Memphis, Tennessee where she continued teaching and began her career as a writer. In Memphis, she published a newspaper and spoke out against prejudice and violence. In later life, she moved to Chicago, Illinois where she became perhaps the most famous black woman in America.
Ida B. Wells accomplished great things because she had the courage to speak truth, even when it was hard. And that’s a lesson all of us should remember.
Quotes About Freedom
“Education is the key to unlock the golden door to freedom.”
George Washington Carver
“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.”
Bob Dylan
“To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela
“We must be free, not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.”
William Faulkner
“I’d like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free and wanted other people to be also free.”
Rosa Parks
About Mississippi
It’s a Fact: Ida B. Wells was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
It’s a Fact: The capital of Mississippi, and the largest city in the state, is Jackson. The abbreviation for Mississippi is MS.
It’s a Fact: The name Mississippi comes from Ojibway Indian tribe. Mississippi means “big river” in their language. The Mississippi River, which runs along the western boarder of the state, is one of the biggest rivers in the world.
It’s a Fact: Mississippi is considered the birthplace of “The Blues,” a popular style of music that got its start from songs that slaves and farm workers sang as they worked in the fields.
It’s a Fact: Rock-and-roll superstar Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. Blues hall-of-famers Muddy Waters and B.B. King were also born in Mississippi.
Fun Fact: Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only American president to be elected 4 times.
Fun Fact: The biggest ocean in the world is the Pacific Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is the second-biggest ocean. A large body of water called The Gulf of Mexico borders the southern states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Fun Fact: The biggest river in America is the Mississippi River, which runs along the western boarder of the state of Mississippi.
Fun Fact: The Earth has 7 large bodies of land, which are called continents. The seven continents are: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.
Fun Fact: The Sun is a star, like the other stars you see at night. But, the Sun is much, much brighter because it’s much, much closer. If you shined a light at the next nearest star, it would take over four years for that beam of light to arrive there.
Just for fun,
Did Ida B. Wells begin her professional career as a teacher, a preacher, or a seamstress?
Is the capital of Mississippi Holly Springs, Biloxi, or Jackson?
How many continents does the Earth have? Is it 5, 7, 10, or 12?
At which temperature does water boil? Is it 50 degrees, 75 degrees, or 100 degrees Celsius?
Here's a riddle for you:
Why does Mississippi see better than Florida?
