46 pages • 1 hour read
The Red Record: Tabulated Statistics and Alleged Causes of Lynching in the United States
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Book Brief
80
Book • Nonfiction
Southern United States • 1890s
1895
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In The Red Record: Tabulated Statistics and Alleged Causes of Lynching in the United States, Ida B. Wells documents post-Civil War lynchings in America, highlighting how white society used such violence to maintain control over Black Americans following emancipation. Utilizing public records and personal testimonies, Wells exposes the brutality and systemic racism behind these acts, demonstrating how lynchings were often justified with unfounded accusations and hypocritical pretenses.
Informative
Dark
Unnerving
Challenging
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Ida B. Wells' The Red Record is highly praised for its groundbreaking documentation of racial violence and lynching in America, revealing systemic injustice with compelling, meticulously gathered data. Critics commend its courageous, pioneering journalism. However, some note its graphic content can be overwhelming. Overall, it's a crucial, eye-opening historical text.
Who Should Read The Red Record?
Readers who engage with The Red Record by Ida B. Wells are typically interested in historical analyses of racial violence, social justice, and African American history. Fans of The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois and Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi would find Wells' detailed exposé on lynching in the United States compelling and informative.
Frances Willard
Frances Willard
An American temperance activist and leader of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, noted for her involvement in women’s suffrage. Her tenure is marked by exclusionary racial practices and failure to denounce racial violence.
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass
A former enslaved person who became a prominent social activist, lecturer, and writer, known for advocating non-violence and supporting women’s suffrage. His foreword for Ida B. Wells's work highlights his influence and support of her activism.
80
Book • Nonfiction
Southern United States • 1890s
1895
Adult
18+ years
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