Ida In Her Own Words

Michelle Duster

ISBN 10: 0980239818 / ISBN 13: 9780980239812

Published by Benjamin Williams Publishing, 2008

About this Item

Open Books is a nonprofit social venture that provides literacy experiences for thousands of readers each year through inspiring programs and creative capitalization of books.

Seller Inventory # mon0000341351

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Ida In Her Own Words
• Publisher: Benjamin Williams Publishing
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0980239818
• ISBN 13: 9780980239812
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

African Americans were deliberately and systematically eliminated from participating in the preparation and exhibition of the Columbian Exposition (World's Fair) of 1893. The fact that an entire group of people who had been free citizens for almost thirty years, and who had made important contributions to the development of the nation were not given representation at such a significant international forum, provoked a protest. A small group of four people contributed to a pamphlet entitled The Reason Why the Colored American is not in the Worlds Columbian Exposition. Thousands of pamphlets were distributed. Class Legislation, attributed to Ida B. Wells, and Lynch Law, written by Ida B. Wells, were two sections included in the pamphlet. The pieces give a glimpse for today's readers to understand the cruelty and hypocrisy of the country at that time. Ida B. Wells' grandson, Troy Duster, and great-granddaughter, Michelle Duster, add historical perspective and insight into how much things have changed or not when it comes to the African American experience in the United States of America.

About the Author

Michelle Duster, great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells, has spent the majority of her career in advertising and marketing. She started as a copywriter at a small agency in Chicago and has worked as a freelance project manager and writer in marketing communications. She also worked on the PBS broadcast documentary film "Ida B. Wells." Duster earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Dartmouth College and received her master's degree in Communications from the New School for Social Research in New York City.