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The miscegenation laws of the South only operate against the legitimate union of the races; they leave the white man free to seduce all the colored girls he can, but it is death to the colored man who yields to the force and advances of a similar attraction in white women.

Ida B. Wells

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

Assault Been Country Defense Gum Only Self Time Used
One had better die fighting against injustice than die like a dog or a rat in a trap.
IDA B. WELLS

Better Die Dog Had Injustice Like One Rat Trap
I am only a mouthpiece through which to tell the story of lynching and I have told it so often that I know it by heart. I do not have to embellish; it makes its own way.
IDA B. WELLS

Emblis Heart Know Lynching Make Mouthpiece Often Only Own Story Told Way
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

All Death Fact Judge Jury Kind Men Misdemeanors Murder Offense Put Without Women
The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.
IDA B. WELLS

Act Before Compare Educator Know Must People Press
The lesson this teaches and which every Afro-American should ponder well, is that a Winchester rifle should have a place of honor in every black home, and it should be used for that protection which the law refuses to give.
IDA B. WELLS

Black Country Every Home Honor Lessons People Person Pinder Place Protection Refuse Teacher Well
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

Although Barbarity Daughter During Effort For Increase Last Lynching Number Philanthropic Single Steadily Twenty Year
A Winchester rifle should have a place of honor in every black home.
IDA B. WELLS

Back Ever Home Honor Place Rifle Winchester
I shall feel I have done my race a service. Other considerations are of minor importance.
IDA B. WELLS

Consideration Done Feel Importance Minor Race Service Shall
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

Come Feeling Home Instinctive Little People Schoo Something Training Weekly
The appetite grows for what it feeds on.
IDA B. WELLS

Appetite Feed Grow One
The alleged menace of universal suffrage having been avoided by the absolute suppression of the negro vote, the spirit of mob murder should have been satisfied and the butchery of negroes should have ceased.
IDA B. WELLS

Absolute Alleged Country Menace People Suffrage Suppression Universal Vote
The miscegenation laws of the South only operate against the legitimate union of the races; they leave the white man free to seduce all the colored girls he can, but it is death to the colored man who yields to the force and advances of a similar attraction in white women.
IDA B. WELLS

Against Attract Free Law Leave Legitimate Man Miscegenation Only Operate Race Seduce South Union White Women
The South resented giving the Afro-American his freedom, the ballot box and the Civil Rights Law.
IDA B. WELLS

Box Civil Rights Country Freedom Give Law Resented South Vballot
I had already determined to sell my life as dearly as possible if attacked. I felt if I could take one lyncher with me, this would even up the score a little bit.
IDA B. WELLS

Already Attack Bit Clearly Determine Little Lynch Possible Score Sell Take
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

Against Commission Country Crime Men More People Race Suffer White Women

The miscegenation laws of the South only operate against the legitimate union of the races; they leave the white man free to seduce all the colored girls he can, but it is death to the colored man who yields to the force and advances of a similar attraction in white women.

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The miscegenation laws of the South only operate against the legitimate union of the races; they leave the white man free to seduce all the colored girls he can, but it is death to the colored man who yields to the force and advances of a similar attraction in white women.

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