Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement - Hardcover

Dennis Brindell Fradin was the author of many books for young readers, including the well-received Samuel Adams: The Father of American Independence, and, with coauthor and wife Judith Bloom Fradin, Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. 

"a stellar biography. The Fradin's compelling book is one that most libraries will want." --SLJ, Starred School Library Journal, Starred

Celebrated as the "Queen of the Black Race" and "The Princess of the Press," Ida B. Wells is best known for her turn-of-the-century anti-lynching crusade. Her biting editorials and inspired speeches against vigilantism inflamed Southern readers, brought public attention to a "crime against humanity," and rallied supporters. Ahead of her time in her aggressively nonconciliatory approach, she was also spurned by less militant Afican-American leaders of her day and avoided as a troublemaker. The Fradins recount Wells' fight for racial equality, her encounters with the day's personalities (Frederick Douglas confessed that "while he disapprvoved of lynching . . . he had assumed that the victims were guilty and weren't worth the time and effort of saving") and her extraordinary accomplishments: civil rights activist, journalist, editor, founding member of the NAACP, suffragist, political candidate, Chicago's first female probabtions officer, and still more. The portrait is well rounded, showing that the fearless and uncomprimising activist was also an overbearing mother and a blunt and undiplomatic individual.("I cannot or do not make friends. . . . My temper has always been my besetting sin"). Clearly captioned black and white illustrations, historical documents, and facsimiles are generoulsy interspersed, and students will welcome the insightful author's note, useful bibliography, and extensive index.
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Celebrated as the "Queen of the Black Race" and "The Princess of the Press," Ida B. Wells is best known for her turn-of-the-century anti-lynching crusade. Her biting editorials and inspired speeches against vigilantism inflamed Southern readers, brought public attention to a "crime against humanity," and rallied supporters. Ahead of her time in her aggressively nonconciliatory approach, she was also spurned by less militant African-American leaders of her day and avoided as a troublemaker. The Fradins recount Wells' fight for racial equality, her encounters with the day's personalities (Frederick Douglas confessed that "while he disapproved of lynching . . . he had assumed that the victims were guilty and weren't worth the time and effort of saving") and her extraordinary accomplishments: civil rights activist, journalist, editor, founding member of the NAACP, suffragist, political candidate, Chicago's first female probations officer, and still more. The portrait is well rounded, showing that the fearless and uncompromising activist was also an overbearing mother and a blunt and undiplomatic individual.("I cannot or do not make friends. . . . My temper has always been my besetting sin"). Clearly captioned black and white illustrations, historical documents, and facsimiles are generously interspersed, and students will welcome the insightful author's note, useful bibliography, and extensive index." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred

"Near the end of her life, Ida B. Wells-Barnett was smuggled into a prison to meet with 12 sharecroppers who had been consigned to death row for trying to organize; instead of offering comfort, she tartly told them to stop singing spirituals and start hoping for freedom here on Earth. In the Fradins’ view, that was Wells all over: an outspoken journalist who never softened or compromised and who lashed at blacks and whites with equal fervor at any sign of accommodation to racial inequity. . . . She is chiefly remembered, however, for her long crusade against lynching, sparked by the violent death of a Memphis acquaintance. After reading the Fradins’ brutal, explicit accounts of several lynchings and race riots, and seeing the horrifying photos that alternate with formal portraits of Wells’ family and prominent associates, it will be easy to understand the rage."

Booklist, ALA, Starred Review

"This is a well-researched book, and the historical information it provides would be useful to the middle school student where needed." Book Report