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Book Review

I read the book, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, by Catherine A. Welch. It was published by Carolrhoda Books, Inc., and its copyright date is 2000. I would definitely read another book by her. This biography was very detailed and informative, so I enjoyed reading it very much. Reading it actually made me feel like I was there with Ida and I was part of her amazing life. I would rate this book four out of five stars because the book was very good. However, it lacked interesting events and bored me at some parts.

All in all, the book was very well written and I would recommend it for people interested in the Civil War and the time period of segregation right after it. I think the book could have been better if the author would have put less about lynching and more about Ida's actual life. It didn't really mention her struggles that much, and when it did, there wasn't very much detail about it. Otherwise, the book was fantastic, and I would read another one of Catherine's books any day!

Obstacles and Risks

Everybody has obstacles and risks that shape their life. I am going to tell you some of my major ones. First of all, my family has created some challenges for me. When I was only sixteen, my mother and father died from yellow fever. I didn't want to separate my family, so I decided to care for my five younger siblings. I knew that this decision was a tough one. I knew it would be the end of my carefree childhood, and indeed it was.

When I got older, I married Ferdinand Barnett. We later had four kids named Charles, Herman, Ida, and Alfreda. My family often kept me from work. Most of my time was spent caring for my kids . This meant that I couldn't work as much, and when I did get to, my children would have to tag along with me. It was a very difficult change in my life because I had to learn how to balance family with work.

Another obstacle in my life was being discriminated against. Most other colored people faced it as well. One example of discrimination I had to face was the Jim Crow laws. These laws kept blacks and whites separated in railroad cars, restaurants, theaters, parks, playgrounds, and streetcars. These laws were passed by many states, and it made me very angry to see my people without the justice they deserved.