Book Review 2

‘They Say”: Ida B.Wells and the Reconstruction of Race

by James West Davidson

From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Southern white supremacist mobs tried to rid themselves of the African American race all together. While they crept through the night torturing innocent blacks, the rest of America stood back and watched. Knowing something had to be done; a young African American schoolteacher from Tennessee began her fight for equality. Along with other African American rights activists, Ida B. Wells dedicated her life to the cause.

In ‘They Say’, James West Davidson narrates the first half of Wells’ life and recounts the fight for freedom from racial discrimination in America during the Reconstruction period. Similar to Chana Kai Lee’s novel, “For Freedom’s Sake,” Davidson gracefully depicts the, often hectic, alterations made in the South over the course of the history: the increased education opportunities among young African Americans, African American involvement in politics, and the struggle to release society’s racist grip on the South.

In her younger years, Wells focused on religion, her social life, and romance but her interests were halted as segregation flooded the country. Exposed to these entrenched customs, Wells grew tough skin and a forceful personality which benefited her in her push to end discrimination. Her rebellious character helped her in her travels as an anti-lynching writer and lecturer and, specifically, in her vicious law suit against the C&O Railroad Company.

“The conductor grabbed her arm and tried to wrench her into the aisle. The white passengers nearby turned and gawked. He pulled harder, her duster tore. Ida leaned over and bit his hand as hard as she could. The conductor jumped back, hand bleeding. Once the shock had registered the conductor disappeared down the aisle and in a moment returned with the baggage attendant and a third man. Some of the white passengers were calling encouragement to the conductor; others stood on their seats, to get a better view of the fracas. Ida braced again but a few passengers moved the seat she was pushing against, and with three men pulling at her there was no contest. They maneuvered her into the aisle” (Davidson 70).

‘They Say’ serves as striking insight to the life and aspirations of Ida B. Wells. For centuries, Wells would be worshipped for changing the meaning of race in America. The ability to see the tale through Wells’ eyes simply illuminates it. Before, we knew what happened; now, we know how it feels to be discriminated against and to struggle to be freed from racism.. This book is an honor to read and you will feel like you were there, in the fight for equality, right next to Ida B. Wells, herself.