The only times an Afro-American who was assaulted got away has been when he had a gun and used it in self-defense. - Ida B. Wells

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It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness. ― Leo Tolstoy

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The negro has suffered far more from the commission of this crime against the women of his race by white men than the white race has ever suffered through his crimes. - Ida B. Wells

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The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the crowd. - Ida B. Wells

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Although lynchings have steadily increased in number and barbarity during the last twenty years, there has been no single effort put forth by the many moral and philanthropic forces of the country to put a stop to this wholesale slaughter. - Ida B. Wells

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The Afro-American is thus the backbone of the South. - Ida B. Wells

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The city of Memphis has demonstrated that neither character nor standing avails the Negro if he dares to protect himself against the white man or become his rival. - Ida B. Wells

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The mob spirit has grown with the increasing intelligence of the Afro-American. - Ida B. Wells

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In fact, for all kinds of offenses - and, for no offenses - from murders to misdemeanors, men and women are put to death without judge or jury; so that, although the political excuse was no longer necessary, the wholesale murder of human beings went on just the same. - Ida B. Wells

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Our country's national crime is lynching. It is not the creature of an hour, the sudden outburst of uncontrolled fury, or the unspeakable brutality of an insane mob. - Ida B. Wells

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