Ida B Wells was a brilliant anti-colonialist activist, journalist, writer, teacher and a leader within the human rights movement of her time. Born on 16 July 1862, she grew up during a time when the legal end of slavery did not translate into an anti-racist United States of America. Lynchings, for example, which is a dominant theme of her work, was one mechanism used by white supremacists to continue instilling fear within Black people, and to continue social and economic oppression through that economy of fear. 

In this episode of In The Ring, brilliant historian Vashna Jagarnath is back. She narrates the life and times of Ida B Wells, in a manner that is truly compelling, and which I know will inspire you to do more reading and research of your own, beyond this podcast.

It is a fitting follow-up on our recent podcast epsiode - episode 104 - with Vashna, which had focused on the story of Juneteenth ( https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/episode-104-slavery-the-cosmpolitan-history/id1561851417?i=1000567120352 ).

We have to fight the silencing of Black voices, and popularise the stories of Black thinkers and important- and ordinary - historical figures. This is part of our commitment to epistemic justice. 

It is in that spirit that I hope you enjoy every minute of this conversation which moves across time and space, drawing links constantly between the life and times of Ida B Wells, and contemporary struggles of our own, which can draw on and learn from those of yesteryear.