Mini Book Review #5: Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells
THIS IS THE SHORT-AND-SWEET FIFTH EPISODE OF THE RESTFUL HOME’S NEW SERIES OF MINI BOOK REVIEWS.
The first half of this book I found very well-written and well-compiled. Michelle Duster is Ida B. Wells’ great-granddaughter, and she has written a beautiful tribute to her courageous ancestor. Ms. Wells reported on the evils of lynching, mostly in the South, despite incredible pressure and threats on her life. She also stood up for the rights of many falsely accused or unfairly treated African Americans during the early 1900s. In the Communist-fearing time of the World Wars, the FBI had a profile of Ida that described her as, “one of the most dangerous Negro agitators,” primarily because she so vehemently protested the treatment of the black soldiers (who were hung without due process of law) after the Houston riot associated with Camp Logan. (A disturbing, tragic episode in our country’s history: you can read more HERE.)
Throughout the books, interesting (albeit a bit hagiographic) sidebars profile various civil rights activists, from W.E.B. DuBois to Marcus Garvey. Lovely, modern illustrations by Monica Ahanonu are highlights of many of the pages. Readers might be intrigued by the people Ms. Duster has chosen to feature in these sidebars. (No Francis or Charlotte Grimké, but Muhammed Ali and Colin Kaepernick made it in here!)
The last part of the book became less a biography of the extraordinary Ida B. Wells and more about various powerful female politicians of the Democratic Party, including Hilary Clinton, Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi, and Kamala Harris. I enjoyed this part of the book considerably less, but still found it interesting to see these politicians viewed from such an admiring perspective.
Favorite Quotes from Ida B. the Queen:
“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”
Ida B. Wells
Written upon her 25th birthday, in her journal:
“In the last decade, I’ve only begun to live—to know life as a whole with its joys and sorrows. Today I write these lines with a heart overflowing with thankfulness to My Heavenly Father for His wonderful love and kindness; for His bountiful goodness to me…”
(p. 48)
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