Journal Week 9

Week 9 Session One Assignment One March 8, 2020 10 pm

1. Well’s main arguments against the existing lynching laws were that white women were lying about being raped by black men. She gave cases where white women actually lied and argued that if it were socially acceptable, they would gladly go and marry black men
2. Her essay is structured into different titled sections. The first sections are the preface and a letter from Frederick Douglass, which offers ethos, creidibility to her work. The following sections are the offense, which describes exactly what is happening to Negros, the Black and White of it, which explains the racial tension that exists, and the non platonic relationship between the races, the New Cry which explains what white people were calling for, the Malicious and Untruthful White Press which explains how the media relayed false information which just rallied white people to do more harm, the South’s Position which explains how the South is no different post Civil War and how it still hates the Negro, and finally Self Help which talks about ways the Negro race could help themselves and take action against the injustices that were happening.
3. Wells calls for Afro American citizens to protest by going for the white dollar. She gives examples when they had done so in the past.
4. ex. To Northern capital and Afro-American labor the South owes its rehabilitation. If labor is withdrawn capital will not remain. The Afro-American is thus the backbone of the South. A thorough knowledge and judicious exercise of this power in lynching localities could many times effect a bloodless revolution. The white man’s dollar is his god, and to stop this will be to stop outrages in many localities.
5. The Afro-Americans of Memphis denounced the lynching of three of their best citizens, and urged and waited for the authorities to act in the matter and bring the lynchers to justice. No attempt was made to do so, and the black men left the city by thousands, bringing about great stagnation in every branch of business.
6. The appeal to the white man’s pocket has ever been more effectual than all the appeals ever made to his conscience. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is to be gained by a further sacrifice of manhood and self-respect. By the right exercise of his power as the industrial factor of the South, the Afro-American can demand and secure his rights, the punishment of lynchers, and a fair trial for accused rapists.
7. Well’s leadership is similar to that of Lysistrata because they both use their voices to advocate for change. At times when women were supposed to be silent and lacked many rights, both Ida B. Wells and Lysistrata spoke up and called for a change in what they saw as injustice. They both chose to risk their safety and well being in the name of dikaoisine. They both exhibit ondreia (bravery) and showed no fear. They were also selfless in their leadership, both fighting men for the rights of men. The irony is remarkable, truly.
8. For me, Well’s most memorable line is as follows:

Nobody in this section of the country believes the old thread-bare lie that Negro men rape white women. If Southern white men are not careful, they will overreach themselves and public sentiment will have a reaction; a conclusion will then be reached which will be very damaging to the moral reputation of their women.

At a time when people were terrified to speak out in fear of being murdered or sent to jail (not too far off from today, also very ironic) Ida B. Wells was no nonsense and fearless in how she argued. In many other leaders, specifically, civil rights leaders, one might notice a certain filter. Often, leaders have to be careful in how they speak to the opposition because they still feel as if they need them to be given fair treatment, as if equality is not a natural born right. Ida B. Wells did not try to appeal to the white majority at all. She went right in and actually threw out an argument that insinuated that the white majority should be careful, which kind of sounds like a threat. A black woman threatening a white man? On paper?! In 1892? Kind of unheard of and remarkable.

I actually took Black Woman in America with Dr. Watkins here at Howard and we read a book about Ida B. Wells. Dr. Watkins focused a lot of Wells and what a pioneer she was. We talked quite a bit about this particular quote and that while a lot of anti lynching activists argued that lynching was wrong, she was one of the only ones brave enough to actually call out white women for lying and expose it on paper. We talked about how black women like Wells are often hidden in the shadows of history and their contributions are not heavily discussed, even though they were doing things much better than the men.

6. The essay does not come across as gendered to me. I would not be able to figure it out from her writing. If I did not know that she wrote it and someone told me it as a woman, I would not doubt it. I know how powerful women are. I live it. I was raised by them.

7. Wells makes references to the ancient world because she understands that people have respect for it. People that believe in the Bible have a hard time formulating an argument that comes straight from a religious text.

8. I would like to incorporate the styles of using all three rhetorical appeals of pathos ethos and logos. I would also like to incorporate endorsements from credible people.

Week 9 Session Two Assignment One March 11, 2020 3 p.m.

1. Wells believes that the four requisites of leadership are devotion to justice, and good things in general, perseverance, self restraint and a love for humanity.
2. Wells’ description of a leader compares to the examples we have looked at so far in that Wells’ description literally describes the qualities that each leader,, Telemachus, Neoptolemus, Cyrus, Lysistrata, and the Virtue’s of Women, have exhibited in the stories we have read. For example, in the Lysistrata, the women loved their sons and their husbands and thought that war was destroying their society. They persevered when the men tried to take the Acropolis back. They refused to give up their fight and stood tall in the face of adversity. They definitely showed self restraint in how they resisted sex. As much as the men craved it, they craved it as well. We ca also see perseverance in Cyrus when he initially fails at the things his new friends in the new country were very good at. He also shows self restraint in his home country where he limits how much he eats and drinks.
3. I can infer that Wells believes that leadership is not just something people are born into. It takes plenty education, time and practice. Her beliefs are similar to our discussions of mentorship and education and outrage in that Wells believes in philanthropia and paidea, both words we have been using to discuss how one becomes a leader and what that leadership looks like. To be a leader, well a good leader, means to have a love for something much bigger than oneself. It means to constantly educate oneself and strive to understand the needs of others and help advocate and if need be, fight for them.

Leadership Group Sunday 12pm

This week my group worked a lot on leadership through collaboration. We worked on our midterm project and through our collaboration I found great ideas were being brought to the table. Through our discussions, I was really able to understand more how Ella and Destiny think, how their different ways of creating really add to the project. If I had done it by myself, it would not be as good. I am excited to debut the project. I think that the opportunity to present our syllabus will enhance our leadership skills.

This week I worked on philanthropia through scheduling time to work at the Black College Expo where thousands of students come and get scholarships and school acceptances. The Expo is run by a mentor of mine, Theresa Price, the founder of National College Resources Foundation, which runs the Black College Expo, the Latino College Expo, and STEAM education programs. I discussed with her ways I can help the organization and offer my skills to mentor to high school students at both the expo and at the Power of ME tour that she hosts at high schools in the vicinity of the expos. The Power of ME tour empowers students and offers mentorship programs to encourage students to attend college and pursue careers.

Next week I want to work on utilizing my free time to be productive. I do not just want to sit in my house while on break. Hopefully the United States government will not decide to quarantine the whole country. Provided I get the opportunity to go outside I will play basketball, maybe go horseback riding, or hike, read, hang out with friends and family and see how I can help my dad.

Hopefully this time also gives me time to work on my relationships with people I do not often get a chance to see that are still very important to me. I will try to make time for my younger cousins who I know look up to me and talk with and learn from some of the elders in my family who have a lot to teach.