| Ida B. Wells believed fervently in economic | | | | homes and would be returning under much better |
| boycotts as a way of dealing with white racism | | | | circumstances then they left. She also believed in |
| and racial discrimination. She was of the opinion | | | | economic sanctions as a way of protest. Wells |
| that the one thing that white capitalists | | | | traveled abroad and tried to get the British to not |
| understood was money and if African Americans | | | | invest in the southern states. If the British were |
| created a situation where the white capitalists | | | | to invest, that improves the economic situation |
| threatened to loose money they would make | | | | for whites. She urged them not to invest in the |
| necessary adjustments. What she meant is that if | | | | south until white racism and racial discrimination |
| African Americans who were the industrial | | | | was removed from the south. |
| backbone of the south decided to no longer cater | | | | Although she may have best been known for her |
| to white stores then these white store owners | | | | anti-lynching movement she was certainly bigger |
| who had quite a bit of political clout would lose | | | | than the anti lynching movement, she was also |
| their influence to keep the more racist southern | | | | involved in the settlement house movement. |
| elements at bay and create a more peaceful living | | | | During WW1, there was a large number of |
| environment for the races. They would eradicate | | | | African Americans migrating from the south to |
| white racism and discrimination if it were costing | | | | the north. What the settlement house did was try |
| them money. | | | | to make life as pleasant as possible, particularly |
| This was placed on the table after the lynching of | | | | for a number of African American women who |
| her three friends. In this situation African | | | | were relocating. The movement provided food, |
| Americans can do two things. If they stayed they | | | | clothing, shelter, and jobs. Many of the women |
| could boycott white stores to create a better | | | | also needed daycare for their children. Booker T. |
| environment. Since they were the backbone of | | | | Washington, as a way of curtailing the influence of |
| the industrial south, they could always leave, take | | | | Wells and the conservator newspaper with her |
| their collective power with them and white | | | | husband, would throw his weight behind the |
| capitalist would also feel the impact because the | | | | founding of the national urban league which would |
| African Americans represented not only labor but | | | | have more resources to do what the settlement |
| also consumers. If they were to leave, what | | | | house movement but to do things beyond what it |
| would happen? These capitalists would do all in | | | | was doing. He would make certain that Wells |
| their power to cool down the more racists | | | | would not have a leadership role in the local |
| southern white elements. They would do all in | | | | Chicago chapter of the urban league. She blamed |
| their power to create an environment where all | | | | W.E.B. Dubois that she did not get the presidency |
| races could peacefully coexist. Then the African | | | | of the local branch of the NAACP. |
| Americans would return south to their rightful | | | | |