Born in Mississippi, Ida B. Wells was a baby when the Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people. Growing up in this period of imperfect freedom had an impact on Wells’s parents and how they raised Ida and her siblings. They modeled the importance of striving to do the right thing no matter the consequence, such as when her father voted for the first time, even though it meant that his white boss fired him. As Ida came of age, she also made brave choices and used her voice to make a difference in her work as a teacher, caretaker for her siblings, and editorial writer and journalist taking on racial and gender injustice. This picture book account focuses on Ida’s involvement in the 1913 women’s suffrage march in Washington, D.C. The march was organized by the National American Woman Suffrage Association, which was a whites-only group. Despite their exclusion, a small number of Black women had traveled to the nation’s capital to participate. The Black marchers were relegated to the back of the parade, but Ida made her way to the front to walk arm in arm with the other white suffragists from Illinois. Historical information and lyrical sentiments are tightly woven in this compelling text about a female Black activist. Oil paintings rich in color and action portray important scenes from Ida’s life and times.

"Ida B. Wells is featured in this picture-book biography for another one of her passionate causes: women's suffrage." --Booklist



"A tribute to a tireless African American journalist and crusader for social justice​." --Kirkus Reviews



"Johnson writes with the conviction of Ida B. Wells and her inherent beliefs about right and wrong.... Until her name is as familiar as Abraham Lincoln's, we can't have too many books about Wells." --School Library Journal



A stunning picture book biography about the early life of Ida B. Wells, her incredible work as a suffragist, and her critical role in the Women's March of 1913.



Ida B. Wells grew up during a time when women did not have the right to vote. But Ida aspired for equality; she had learned from her parents to forge a life through hope and bravery, so she worked tirelessly to fight for an America that was fair to everyone regardless of race and gender. Her courageous activism made her one of the most influential civil rights leaders in American history. Here is Ida's story with a specific spotlight on her fearless role in the Women's March of 1913.



"An account of one woman's courageous acts." --Publishers Weekly



CCBC Choice 2025



Winner of the Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction



2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Booklist