Ida B. Wells was a pioneering Black journalist, educator, and civil rights activist. Born in Mississippi in 1862, Wells faced discrimination and violence from a young age. She became a schoolteacher but left teaching after being fired for her activism. Wells gained national attention for her fearless reporting on lynchings, which she argued were used by white Southerners to control and intimidate Black people. Her writings on this topic and her advocacy for racial equality brought her both widespread praise and violent threats. Wells co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and worked tirelessly for the rest of her life to promote civil rights and challenge racial injustice. Wells' legacy as a trailblazer for both women and people of color continues to inspire social justice activists today.