Ida B. Wells was born on July 16, 1862 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Her parents were slaves, but they became free six months after Wells birth. Wells married Ferdinand Barnett and had four children with him. Ida Wells played a big role in journalism as a whole, but also African American journalism. She was very passionate about equal rights and African American rights. Wells became very vocal about these rights in May of 1884 after asked to move to the car for African Americans even though she purchased a first class ticket. She refused to move, so they removed her from the train. She sued the railroad and won $500, but the case later overturned. This is when Wells started to write about race and politics under the name Lola. Wells eventually
