The Emergence of Jim Crow - America in Class
The Emergence of Jim Crow - America in Class
The Emergence of Jim Crow - America in Class
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Address at Tremont Temple <strong>in</strong> the Boston MondayLectureship, Feb. 13, 1893, by Miss Ida B. WellsI am before the <strong>America</strong>n people to-day through no<strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> my own, but because <strong>of</strong> a deep-seated convictionthat the country at large does not know the extent to whichlynch law prevails <strong>in</strong> part <strong>of</strong> the Republic, not the conditionswhich force <strong>in</strong>to exile those who speak the truth. I cannotbelieve that the apathy and <strong>in</strong>difference which so largelyobta<strong>in</strong>s regard<strong>in</strong>g mob rule is other than the result <strong>of</strong> ignorance<strong>of</strong> the the true situation. And yet, the observ<strong>in</strong>g and thoughtfulmust know that <strong>in</strong> one section, at least,<strong>of</strong> our common country,a government <strong>of</strong> the people, by the people, and for the people,means a government by the mob; where the land <strong>of</strong> the free andhome <strong>of</strong> the brave means a land <strong>of</strong> lawlessness, murder andoutrage; and where liberty <strong>of</strong> speech means the license <strong>of</strong> mightto destroy the bus<strong>in</strong>ess and drive from home those whoexercise this privilege contrary to the will <strong>of</strong> the mob. Repeatedattacks on the life, liberty and happ<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>of</strong> any citizen or class<strong>of</strong> citizens are attacks on dist<strong>in</strong>ctive <strong>America</strong>n <strong>in</strong>stitutions; suchattacks imperil<strong>in</strong>g as they do the foundation <strong>of</strong> government,law and order, merit the thoughtful consideration <strong>of</strong> far-sighted<strong>America</strong>ns; not from a standpo<strong>in</strong>t <strong>of</strong> sentiment, not even somuch from a standpo<strong>in</strong>t <strong>of</strong> justice to a weak race, as from adesire to preserve our <strong>in</strong>stitutions. --cont’dIda B.Wells with the widow <strong>of</strong> Tom Mossamerica<strong>in</strong>class.org 18