Ida B. Wells will be remembered at the Jan. 24 “Pursuing the Dream” event at Homewood-Flossmoor High School when her great-granddaughter, Michelle Duster, takes the stage as the event’s keynote speaker.
The program, at 7 p.m. in the Mall Auditorium, is dedicated to celebrating black history and encouraging unity. This is the eighth year H-F has hosted the program that was first organized by a student.
Duster is a noted historian and author who has written several books, including “Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells.”
Wells was a journalist who, during the 1890s, courageously reported on lynchings and the horrific violence against African Americans. She earned a Pulitzer Prize for her efforts. Wells also was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and she argued for women’s suffrage.
Over Duster’s 30-year career, she has highlighted, celebrated and documented the contributions African Americans and women have made to the United States. She has worked on articles, books, films, monuments, murals, markers, street names and festivals. Her work has been published in a wide range of magazines, newspapers and newsletters.
Duster consulted with Mattel on the creation of the Ida B. Wells Barbie Doll for the Barbie Inspiring Women Series.
H-F students and community members will perform and speak about their experiences and impact at the annual event, including Poetic Expressions, the H-F speech team, Steppers dancers and the H-F Gospel Choir.