The Red Record by Ida B. Wells
- 1. The Red Record by Ida B. Wells is a groundbreaking work published in 1895 that serves as a powerful indictment against the rampant injustice of lynching in the United States, particularly targeting African American men in the post-Civil War era. In this meticulously researched account, Wells not only documents the chilling statistics surrounding the lynching epidemic, revealing the staggering number of African Americans who were executed extrajudicially, but she also fiercely critiques the systemic racism that upheld these brutal acts of violence. Wells challenges the prevailing myths that justified lynching by exposing the underlying motives of economic gain and social control that drove white mobs to commit these atrocities. Through evocative prose and compelling narratives, she personalizes the statistics, giving voice to the victims and their families, thereby humanizing the numbers and urging society to confront the ugly reality of racial terror in America. The book not only highlights the role of women in the fight against lynching but also marks a significant moment in the history of African American activism, as Wells called for collective action and mobilization against racial violence, making it a seminal text in the early civil rights movement and an enduring testament to her fierce advocacy for justice and equality.
What was Ida B. Wells' main profession?
A) U.S. Senator.
B) Journalist and activist.
C) Medical doctor.
D) School teacher exclusively.
- 2. In which decade was 'The Red Record' published?
A) 1860s
B) 1950s
C) 1920s
D) 1890s
- 3. What event directly prompted Wells to begin her anti-lynching crusade?
A) The lynching of her friend Thomas Moss.
B) Her expulsion from a train car.
C) The passage of Jim Crow laws.
D) The end of the Civil War.
- 4. What does Wells argue is the true primary cause of most lynchings?
A) Personal disputes between individuals.
B) Black economic and social competition with whites.
C) Religious differences.
D) A lack of formal education.
- 5. What organization did Ida B. Wells help found?
A) The Women's Christian Temperance Union.
B) The American Red Cross.
C) The Underground Railroad.
D) The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
- 6. What was a major consequence of Wells' anti-lynching journalism in Memphis?
A) She was elected to public office.
B) She was awarded a Pulitzer Prize.
C) Her newspaper office was destroyed and she was forced to leave.
D) Lynching immediately stopped in the city.
- 7. Which other prominent activist did Wells work with and sometimes disagree with?
A) Abraham Lincoln.
B) Frederick Douglass (though they largely agreed).
C) Harriet Tubman.
D) Booker T. Washington.
- 8. What type of statistics does 'The Red Record' provide about lynching victims?
A) Their religious affiliations.
B) Numbers categorized by alleged offenses and geographic location.
C) The victims' average income levels.
D) Their military service records.
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