It’s Official!
It’s official! The Mississippi Press Association will induct Ida B. Wells into its Hall of Fame.
Mrs. Wells is by many accounts the greatest journalist Mississippi has ever produced. Born in Holly Springs, she moved to Memphis to teach school. In 1892, when a white mob lynched Mrs. Wells’ friend and successful grocery man Thomas Moss, she chose to write about it. So began her life-long career investigating—and debunking the lies of—the era of American lynching.
I’ve been writing about Ida B. Wells in this blog since 2016. She became my hero long before that. Way back in 2009, Myron Lowry, as the temporary mayor of Memphis, proposed an Ida B. Wells monument. I was already a fan. I did not yet know the term “intersectionality,” but I admired Mrs. Wells’ fight against disrespect from white women in the suffrage battle and disrespect from Black men in the racial equality battle. Both sides, y’all. Coming and going. When I read the collection of her writings, Light of Truth, I understood how deeply she had been forced to persevere in her fight. She kept at it until she won.
Blame my ancestor Ellen Hebron for my interest in Mrs. Wells and the Mississippi Press Association. My great-great-grandmother Ellen was from Mississippi. A writer, Ellen published two books and many poems and essays in newspapers across the state. Her writing period overlapped with that of Mrs. Wells. Unlike Mrs. Wells, Ellen did not write about lynching, even though Ellen’s husband was a lyncher. Yet, the MPA made Ellen an honorary member of the association (or its predecessor; it’s varyingly reported.) It seemed only fair to me that the MPA honor Mrs. Wells too. So I asked the Association: have y’all honored Mrs. Wells? If not, might you?
No, the MPA Executive Director, said the Association had not honored Mrs. Wells. But, yes, the idea had been discussed. For several years, I stayed in contact with the MPA as the association moved toward making the possibility of honoring Mrs. Wells a reality.
Now it’s official. It’s about to happen.
The induction ceremony will held be on June 26 at the Association’s annual meeting.
I will be there.
Donna Weidner
👏🏻❤️👏🏻
Jean Ewing
One person (in this case, YOU) can make such a difference in the present and thus the future. Thanks Ellen for inspiring us to take action AND persevere.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you, Jean. It’s one of those things where people were moving in the same direction, and it all came together. I never know why I’m led to do something, and it’s really nice when it turns out I have a part to play.
Joe Hawes
We were at the dedication of her statue here in Memphis. She was a very impressive fighter and very deserving of numerous accolades, the one from the MPA being particularly apt. Good on you fortifying her memory up.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
We were there too! Such a long time ago it seems. A fighter, she was.
Luanne
That is very wonderful news. Congratulations for being instrumental in having that happen. It’s ironic to me since I’ve heard of Ida B. Wells, but not your ancestor.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I have to say, when I told one of my cousins about this development, they said, “Who’s Ida B. Wells?” 🙂
Joanne Corey
That’s wonderful, Ellen! Thank you for raising the issue so that Ida B. Wells is finally recognized in her home state.
Have you seen “Suffs”? We recently saw a recording from its Broadway run on PBS’s “Great Performances” series. The play deals directly with Wells and the problems she and other Black women faced in the suffrage movement. And, given that the play is a musical, she sings about it!
Ellen Morris Prewitt
No, I never heard of “Suffs.” I must look it up. Singing! Plus, you’ve hit the nail on the head in naming my role in all this: It seems to be “raising the issue.” Then others take over and make it real. I’ve met so many wonderful folks as a result, and I’m glad for that.
Jim Van Hecke
Good for you! I am so proud of you! Love, Van
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you! ❤️
Marie A Bailey
Wow! Thank you for persisting! That’s wonderful news. xo
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I stayed by their side as it moved to possible adoption–my role seems to be “raiser of the issue.” Then others take over the work!
Marie A Bailey
I love that: “raiser of the issue.” If you get a name badge for the event, I suggest you add that label to it 🙂
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Oh, I need to do that! A friend had “Agent Provocateur” on her business card, which my husband always loved. 🙂
Marie A Bailey
I’m thinking of how my husband jokingly referred to me as his “supportive spouse” when signing up to attend an astronomy conference, and then they actually put “Supportive Spouse” on my name badge … lol. I still have it 😉
Ellen Morris Prewitt
😄 My husband has taken on the job title of “Assistant Marketing Director” for the book, and he keeps adding additional jobs: chauffeur, thing-toter, etc. Each time, I double his (zero) pay.