There’s a new biography out about black journalism pioneer Ida B. Wells, who was known for her anti-lynching editorials. It’s called Ida: A Sword Among Lions and is written by Paula J. Giddings.

Philadelphia Daily News columnist Jenice Armstrong has the word:

Wells’ militancy and strident personality may have contributed to the fact that her accomplishments weren’t always included in books about black heroes, such as that by Carter G. Woodson, the father of what would become Black History Month. “And despite her reputation as an isolated - if courageous - crank, there is ample evidence that Wells was not petulant in the sense that she refused to cooperate with those whom she personally disagreed with over matters that benefitted the race,” Giddings wrote. Remarkably, Wells managed to stay hopeful.

“In the end, she’s never bitter and she never lost hope in the ability of the country to change . . . despite the lynchings, despite all of her disappointments,” Giddings said. “I think some people lose the faith but not her. She had faith in people. In 1930, she decided that she was going to start a newspaper. She said, yes, people are in a Depression . . . but she said people are going to pay for a paper that was going to educate them.”

Wells continued to write up until her death in 1931. In fact, the biography she started in 1862 ends mid-sentence. “She was writing until she could no longer lift her hand,” said Giddings.