Eternal Vigilance

Gr 6—10—Hinman tells of Wells-Barnett's tireless efforts as an antilynching crusader and civil rights advocate. She begins with an episode of Wells as a young woman being removed from the white section of a railroad car and details how she became a teacher and then a journalist to support herself and her orphaned siblings. It was during her time as a journalist in Memphis that three African-American men were lynched, an event that launched her national campaign. Hinman paints an engaging portrait of the activist who was instrumental in the formation of the NAACP. Each stage of Wells-Barnett's life is placed in historical context, providing students with a better understanding of the world in which she lived. Well-chosen black-and-white photographs and other period materials are included throughout the text. Dennis and Judith Fradin's Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement (Clarion, 2000) covers the subject's personal life in more detail. Hinman's biography is a good addition for libraries needing more material on this passionate woman.—Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY