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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The Afro-American is not a bestial race. - Ida B. Wells

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Somebody must show that the Afro-American race is more sinned against than sinning, and it seems to have fallen upon me to do so. - 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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I had an instinctive feeling that the people who have little or no school training should have something coming into their homes weekly which dealt with their problems in a simple, helpful way... so I wrote in a plain, common-sense way on the things that concerned our people. - Ida B. Wells

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America's greatest crime against the black man was not slavery or lynching, but that he was taught to wear a mask of self-hate and self-doubt. ― Malcolm X

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The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press. - Ida B. Wells

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There is nothing we can do about the lynching now, as we are out-numbered and without arms. - Ida B. Wells

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The white man's victory soon became complete by fraud, violence, intimidation and murder. - Ida B. Wells

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If this work can contribute in any way toward proving this, and at the same time arouse the conscience of the American people to a demand for justice to every citizen, and punishment by law for the lawless, I shall feel I have done my race a service. - Ida B. Wells

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