Ida B. Wells-Barnett was born a slave in Mississippi in 1862.  Her childhood ended abruptly when her parents and
a baby brother died during a yellow fever epidemic, leaving Ida to care for her five younger siblings.  But as she would throughout her life, Ida met the challenge.  She became a country school teacher at age sixteen to earn money to keep the family together.  Her career changed direction when she was dragged off a train, to the applause of white passengers, after refusing to give up a seat reserved for whites.   From that day forward she dedicated herself to fighting injustice.