Ida Wells: Journalist and Activist

Ida Wells: Journalist and Activist — page 3 — CHAPTER ONE 6

Ida Wells: Journalist and Activist — page 4 — SEPARATE AND NOT EQUAL In May 1884 21 year old Ida Wells stepped aboard a train in Memphis Tennessee Wells was an African American woman She had purchased a first class ticket She made her way to the only first class car She sat down and pulled out a book to read When the conductor of the train came through he saw Wells sitting there Other African American passengers were riding in the second class smoking car That car was reserved for smokers and African Americans The conductor demanded that Wells move to the smoking car too In the mid- to late 1800s black people could work as servers in railroad cars but could not sit with white passengers 7

Ida Wells: Journalist and Activist — page 5 — The smoking car was crowded and dirty It was filled with cigarette smoke Besides Wells had paid for a seat in the first class car She refused to move The conductor grabbed her arm but Wells bit his hand He called two other men to help drag her out Still Wells refused to move to the other car She got off at the next stop instead LIMITED FREEDOMS Because of the color of her skin Wells was not allowed to sit in the first class train car This experience was common among African Americans in the South at the time White people discriminated against black people in many ways After the American Civil War 1861–1865 African Americans enjoyed some new rights and opportunities The Thirteenth Amendment was passed in 1865. This amendment abolished slavery But many white people tried to restrict black people's rights In 1865 and 1866 southern leaders created laws called the black codes 8

Ida Wells: Journalist and Activist — page 6 — These laws were designed to control black people Black men could be arrested for talking to white women They could also be arrested or forced to pay a fine for being unemployed Black people who were unable to pay the fine could be forced to work for no wages PERSPECTIVES SEGREGATION ON TRAINS In 1884 Wells sued the railroad company that made her leave the first class car A Memphis jury ruled in her favor The court ordered the railroad company to give her 500 The ruling also said that railroad companies had to provide first class cars for black passengers The railroad company took the case to the Tennessee Supreme Court The court disagreed with the jury It said that the railroad's second class smoking car for black people was equal to the first class car for white people The court forced Wells to pay 200 in fines In 1877 a new group of white people came into power in the South These lawmakers believed that white people were better than people of other races They created Jim Crow laws These laws built on 9

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