Last yr , Chicago bring out anational monumenthonoring civil rights activistIda B. Wells - Barnett . The sculpture — the city ’s first monument honoring a Black woman — is known as the “ Light of Truth , ” a reference to her averment that “ the way to right wrongs is to ferment the light of truth upon them . ”
As a diarist , Wells - Barnett did just that , reporting extensively on the systemic lynching of Black Americans after blanched supremacists lynch three of her own friends in 1892 . In 2020 , she was posthumously awarded a specialPulitzer Prizefor this work .
Born to enslave parents in Mississippi during theCivil War , Wells - Barnett devoted her entire life to combat discrimination in every arena . She process a railroad society for ejecting her from the train because she would n’t leave the white - only railroad car . Shebacked a boycottofChicago ’s 1893 humankind ’s fairover its negative representation and general exclusion of the Black residential area . She co - founded the National Association of Colored Women ’s Clubs andcampaigned tirelessly for suffrage .
The latest tribute to Wells - Barnett is n’t a memorial or a loot — it ’s aBarbiedoll , the latest in Mattel ’s ‘ inspire Women ’ series . Previoustrailblazing womenin the series have includedMaya Angelou , Susan B. Anthony , Helen Keller , and more . The Ida B. Wells - Barnett Barbie is clad in a long dress and clutches an issue of theMemphis Free Speech , the Tennessee paper she wrote for and co - owned .
“ My great - grandmother was a trailblazer , who courageously followed her convictions and challenge the status quo by fighting for civil rights and woman ’s vote , ” Michelle Duster , Wells - Barnett ’s great - granddaughter and writer ofIda B. Wells , Voice of Truth , said in a insistence release . “ This is an incredible chance to shine a light on her truth and enduring legacy to endue a new generation to speak up for what they believe in . ”
The $ 30 doll will be available to buy start January 17 from Target , Walmart , and Amazon .
