46 pages • 1 hour read
Ida B. WellsThe Red Record: Tabulated Statistics and Alleged Causes of Lynching in the United States
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1895A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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.
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.