Saturday, January 7, 2012

Hinman, Bonnie. Eternal vigilance : the story of Ida B. Wells-Barnett


Hinman, Bonnie.         Eternal vigilance : the story of Ida B. Wells-Barnett
Morgan Reynolds      2011   128p   28.95  978-1-59935-111-7            
ms/hs             Civil Rights Leaders           VG-BNS           

Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and her uncompromising fight
for civil rights, and against lynching, are profiled in this well-written and
thought-provoking biography of one of the great crusaders in American history.
            On pale lavender pages, with well-chosen period photos, the life of Civil
Rights crusader Ida B. Wells-Barnett is examined.  While giving some details of
her early life, this volume focuses more on her deeds than the details of her
personal life.  For more detailed account of her personal life, a more useful
book would be Dennis and Judith Fradin's Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil
Rights Movement (Clarion, 2000).   Each stage of Wells-Barnett's life is placed
in historical context, providing a better understanding of the world in which
she lived. From slavery, through Jim Crow Laws, Wells-Barnett fought against
injustice, gaining valuable allies, yet making powerful enemies.  It is
interesting to note, that , although she was considered a major Muckraker that
term appears nowhere in the text nor the index.  

Well-chosen black-and-white photographs and illustrations, as well as other
period materials, some personal primary source narratives, are also included
throughout the text.  A timeline, extensive chapter notes, bibliographical
references and an index complete this valuable volume.
            This book is part of the Civil Rights Leaders series.  The series consists
of 7 books at this time.  The focus of the series is to profile famous civil
rights leaders.            Naismith, Pat


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