Dear Miss Ida B. Wells

Dear Miss Ida B. Wells,

I am so impressed by your ability to use the idea of "white manliness" to fight against the lynching of black men. Manliness was set apart as something only attainable by the white man. To be manly, white men had to have a strong but controlled sexual appetite. Thus, painting black men as rapists that had no control over their sexual desires, allowed mass lynching to be justified. You were able to see, understand, and then subvert this system to fight for black lives. I am amazed at your prudence and strategy as an activist.

Do you see a resemblance between the lack of proof required for black men to be lynched in your day with the lack of proof required for black men to be shot and beaten in ours? Do you see a resemblance in the rape cultures of our days? In your day, black men were portrayed as too weak to resist their sexual desires, and today men are excused because female victims are dressed in an appealing manner.

Thank you for all the work you did to fight against black lynching and oppression.

Sincerely,
Taylor Wright