The Red Record by Ida B. Wells-Barnett is a foundational work documenting the scope and causes of lynching in the United States during the late nineteenth century. Through careful analysis of data, case studies, and historical records, Wells-Barnett exposes the systemic nature of racial violence and challenges the false narratives used to justify mob executions.
Combining statistical evidence with moral argument, Wells-Barnett presents a compelling indictment of injustice and lawlessness. This work stands as a critical contribution to civil rights history and investigative journalism, illuminating the social conditions that allowed racial terror to persist and calling attention to the urgent need for reform.
This book is essential for readers interested in African American history, civil rights, social justice, and the historical documentation of racial violence in America.