Taking Responsibility: Ida B. Wells and the Anti-Lynching Campaign
45 minWalk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.
- What challenges are you facing?
- What fears or concerns might you have?
- What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?
Observation Questions
- What was Ida B. Wells’ identity in relation to civil rights?
- What was Ida B. Wells’ purpose?
- Why did Ida B. Wells take actions against discrimination and lynching?
Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.
- What is the historical context of the narrative?
- What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
- How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
- How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
- How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
- What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
- Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
- How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?
- Students will analyze Ida B. Wells’ actions to stop lynchings.
- Students will evaluation Wells taking responsibility to teach and inform others about lynching.
- Students will apply their knowledge to determine ways to be responsible in their own lives.