Ida B. Wells, after enduring a horrendous childhood––losing both her parents within 24 hours and her youngest brother to yellow fever––went on to be one of the most feared journalists and bravest women in the history of this country. This gun-toting, original “sister souljah” wielded a pen with the aplomb of any expert in the field of journalism. Long before Sister Rosa Parks did her thing, in 1884, this diminutive, but strong Black woman refused to move from her seat in the “ladies” section of a train to one that was reserved for Negroes. Wells, who was referred to in the Memphis newspaper as the “Darkey Damsel,” sued the train company and won, only to have her victory overturned by the state supreme court.
These are the kinds of examples we must share with our young people and hold in high esteem, especially when it comes to being conscientiously consciousness about what it means to be Black in America. Too often, as Carter G. Woodson warned, we choose “mis-leaders” instead of authentic leaders. We must do better because we have men and women of old that showed us the way.
Our women worked as housekeepers, journalists, teachers, bankers and other occupations, but they understood, advocated and practiced basic economic empowerment principles. They knew that unless Black folks established a solid economic foundation, we would never have the power we need to become self-reliant.
What’s it going to take to get us organized and moving in the right direction? Will we continue to languish in meaningless rhetorical gymnastics espoused by talking heads, politicians, organizational leaders, and amongst ourselves? Or, will we cast off the mundane, the nonsensical, and the time consuming back-and-forth that continue to keep us at status quo?
Maria, Maggie and Ida B. did not settle, sell out or give in to the social pressures they faced in the 19th century. This is the 21st century, we have tremendously more resources than they did, yet, we are still allowing ourselves to go through much the same as they did. They already paid the bill for what we should be enjoying today. All we have to do is take our appropriate place in this society, despite any and all resistance, carve out a niche and control it, and not get caught in the snares of jealousy and selfishness.
After 45 years of watching the selfishness of his brothers and sisters, W.E.B. DuBois said, “I assumed that with knowledge, sacrifice would automatically follow. There were especially sharp young persons [at Fisk University] with the distinct and single-minded idea of seeing what they could get…for themselves, and nobody else.”
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