Historically Speaking: The U.S. Mint’s American Quarter for Ida B. Wells

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, and the U.S. Mint are collaborating to present a program honoring Ida B. Wells. She will be the 16th woman recognized as part of the U.S. Mint’s American Women’s Quarter Program. 

Ida B. Wells was a pioneering investigative journalist, suffragist, civil rights activist, and a founding member of the NAACP. She used her powerful voice to speak out against lynching and other forms of violence against Black individuals, bravely exposing the truth at a time when doing so was perilous.

The event will feature a discussion moderated by Dr. I. Augustus Durham, Assistant Professor of English at the University of Toronto. The panelists include Michelle Duster and Dan Duster, both great-grandchildren of Ida B. Wells and members of the Ida B. Wells Memorial Foundation, along with Dr. Regina D. Langley from the Center for the Study of African American Religious Life (CSAARL). They will explore the life, motivations, and vision of this renowned civil rights leader.

Following the discussion, quarters featuring Ms. Wells' likeness will be distributed to attendees courtesy of the US Mint.

Event Image: The new quarter design featuring Ida B. Wells. Credit: US Mint