Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases #274

Ida B. Wells-Barnett’s “Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases” is aProject Gutenberg eBook, originally published as a pamphlet in 1892. Wells-Barnett provides a firsthand account of the causes of lynch law in the South and argues that it is used as a means of control over the African American population rather than as a punishment for crime. The text details specific instances of racial injustice and examines the false accusations of rape used to justify the lynching of Black men. Wells-Barnett urges action against lynching through self-help, economic boycotts, and the support of Black newspapers. The book is presented with a full Project Gutenberg License that explains terms of use, distribution, and mission of the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.