Shades of OutrageIda B. Wells, a brave journalist in a troubling time, wrote “Southern Horrors: Lynch Lawsin All Its Phases” and “A Red Record” to illustrate the unjust lynching of African Americans in the south. In these pieces, Wells uses an objective tone and indisputable evidence to argue against the unjust and brutal practice of lynching African American men for any crimes, proven or otherwise. Horrifyingly, in several cases, there is no crime involved at all. In her arguments, she uses previous cases of varying natures to prove the lack of equality in the treatment of both victims and the accused due to the color of their skin.In “Southern Horrors1,” Wells talks about the accusations of the rape of white women placed upon black men resulting
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Earlier in the work2, through the reprinted letters of white journalists, Wells illustrates the intolerance of even suggesting white women being attracted to black men. A single short paragraph in a pamphlet doing so resulted in the obliteration of the publication and threats on the lives of both the author and editor if they ever returned to Memphis. The latter chapters of “Southern Horrors3,” Wells further illustrates the empowered white majority’s attitude toward the “beastial negro race.” When a white person, particularly political figures, would speak out against these injustices, they would be labeled as traitors who were unsympathetic toward the women in the cases. The press was truly unfair and unforgiving in their portrayal of African American men and worked hard toward the detriment of progress toward an equal system of justice.Fortunately, Wells suggest a solution at the end of the work4. She offers the insight that the best way for African Americans to change the system is to increase their value by removing themselves from work that saves white capitol and supports white business. The strength to be truly free from the unjust rule of law lied in economic strength and support of each other. This would result in community building and show the quality of work …show more content…
Through her explanations and examples, she paints a very clear picture of the brutal history of race relations in this country and how the violence had only gotten worse since the emancipation of African Americans.Sadly, since African Americans were no longer slaves, they were no longer considered valuable property and thus became valueless targets for white malcontent. Their lives became forfeit for any reason or no reason at all, because the deaths of members of a subhuman race were no longer considered a loss. This is shown as her reasoning for how the brutal and, in many states, lawful lynching began. Her point is very powerfully illustrated in both books and providescompelling evidence toward a need for change in an uneven system of justice.Again, she offers a solution at the end of the document, showing that she is not simply criticizing for the sake of. She offers a call to action for both African Americans and whites in power to work toward fixing a justice system that has very different rules based solely on a circumstance of birth: race.These works and others by Ida B. Wells were written with the intention of stopping the cruel, unequal and unjust punishment of a race of people who were considered guilty of all accusations for simply existing. As stated previously, she presented her data with objectivity and purpose to combat the practice of lynching wither with or without trial. Her writing may have played a major role
Earlier in the work2, through the reprinted letters of white journalists, Wells illustrates the intolerance of even suggesting white women being attracted to black men. A single short paragraph in a pamphlet doing so resulted in the obliteration of the publication and threats on the lives of both the author and editor if they ever returned to Memphis. The latter chapters of “Southern Horrors3,” Wells further illustrates the empowered white majority’s attitude toward the “beastial negro race.” When a white person, particularly political figures, would speak out against these injustices, they would be labeled as traitors who were unsympathetic toward the women in the cases. The press was truly unfair and unforgiving in their portrayal of African American men and worked hard toward the detriment of progress toward an equal system of justice.Fortunately, Wells suggest a solution at the end of the work4. She offers the insight that the best way for African Americans to change the system is to increase their value by removing themselves from work that saves white capitol and supports white business. The strength to be truly free from the unjust rule of law lied in economic strength and support of each other. This would result in community building and show the quality of work …show more content…
Through her explanations and examples, she paints a very clear picture of the brutal history of race relations in this country and how the violence had only gotten worse since the emancipation of African Americans.Sadly, since African Americans were no longer slaves, they were no longer considered valuable property and thus became valueless targets for white malcontent. Their lives became forfeit for any reason or no reason at all, because the deaths of members of a subhuman race were no longer considered a loss. This is shown as her reasoning for how the brutal and, in many states, lawful lynching began. Her point is very powerfully illustrated in both books and providescompelling evidence toward a need for change in an uneven system of justice.Again, she offers a solution at the end of the document, showing that she is not simply criticizing for the sake of. She offers a call to action for both African Americans and whites in power to work toward fixing a justice system that has very different rules based solely on a circumstance of birth: race.These works and others by Ida B. Wells were written with the intention of stopping the cruel, unequal and unjust punishment of a race of people who were considered guilty of all accusations for simply existing. As stated previously, she presented her data with objectivity and purpose to combat the practice of lynching wither with or without trial. Her writing may have played a major role