she saw the scars of beatings etched upon her mother’s back
she learned that hate will happen to a woman who is black
the truth was no more kind to men who shared her skin’s dark hue
as Ida grew, she witnessed more and felt what hate can do
at age sixteen, her family endured a mortal blow
her parents died and six remained with nowhere else to go,
so Ida took upon herself the job of giving care
she taught and studied hard as well – this was her cross to bear
a journalist she then became – in Memphis, made her mark
she wrote impassioned articles ‘bout lynchings in the dark
to ward away the threats and danger, she eschewed her name
adopted her “Iola” and wrote on with heightened fame
a new pursuit commenced for her when, riding on a train,
she was removed with force and sought some justice for her pain
a legal case that fell her way brought moment’ry relief
but then the outcome was reversed – it beggared her belief
she taught in segregated schools with limited supplies
when protesting restrictions, being fir’d was no surprise
returning to her writing gave her strength to fight the foe
when three friends died of gunshot wounds, she knew where she must go
she travelled broadly through the South researching lynching’s truth
while out investigating, she had proven quite the sleuth
her pamphlet Southern Horrors did expose some grievous crimes
her newspaper’s destruction made it clear – ‘twas racist times
upon her flight to freedom in the North, she next resolved
to cross the great Atlantic, where her life’s work then evolved
she travelled throughout Britain and awareness she did raise
‘bout lynching and its terrors and the bodies left ablaze
another pamphlet called The Red Record informed the North
about the Southern murders and the Klansmen pouring forth
meanwhile, with Ferdinand Barnett, our Ida chose to marry
while working hard and protesting, four children she did carry
in Washington, for women an association started
Chicago was the base where Ida healed the broken-hearted
when former slaves migrated from the South to start anew,
she held their hands and taught them things and showed them what to do
in summary, her bravery and courage stifled sin
she helped new women’s groups fermenting suffrage to begin
her treatises on lynching made the world a better place
let’s hope that more of us in years to come will know her face
| 
