Ida B. Wells 1884 railroad lawsuit overturned by Tennessee
Question asked:
“In 1884, Ida B. Wells sued a railroad company after being forced to move from a first-class car to a segregated car, initially won her case, but the ruling was later overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court.”
Summary
In 1884 Ida B. Wells sued a railroad after being forced from a first‑class car to a segregated car and won a monetary award in the local circuit court. The Tennessee Supreme Court later reversed that decision, overturning the award.
Sources 60 searched
- Ida B. Wells (U.S. National Park Service)
She had bought a first-class ticket, ... from the train. As she was being removed, she bit one of the crew members. Wells sued the railroad, and won a $500 settlement in a circuit case court....
- The Honorable Agitator – Rediscovering Black History
She sued the railroad company and eventually won the local case but when the railroad company appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court the decision was reversed and she was ordered to pay court costs.
- Ida B. Wells-Barnett(1862-1931) and Her Passion for Justice, Black Women, African American Women, Sufferage, Women's Movement, Civil Rights Leaders
Wells was forcefully removed from the train and the other passengers--all whites--applauded. When Wells returned to Memphis, she immediately hired an attorney to sue the railroad. She won her case in the local circuit courts, but the railroad company appealed to the Supreme Court of Tennessee, ...
- Ida B. Wells-Barnett(1862-1931) and Her Passion for Justice, Black Women, African American Women, Sufferage, Women's Movement, Civil Rights Leaders
Wells was forcefully removed from ... the local circuit courts, but the railroad company appealed to the Supreme Court of Tennessee, and it reversed the lower court's ruling....
- Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad Company v Ida B ...
To experience full interactivity, please enable Javascript in your browser
- Railroad v. Wells
Get materials from other libraries: WorldCat · How Do I Find Articles? | eResources Policy
- Teacher, Journalist, Activist - A Voice for Justice - The University of Chicago Library
Wells filed a lawsuit against the railroad company in 1884. She won damages in her case at the local level, but the award was overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
- May 4, 1884: Ida B. Wells Protests Segregated Seating on Train - Zinn Education Project
As quoted by Fowler, Wells said, ... Unfortunately, yet not unpredictably, the Supreme Court chose in favor of the railroad industry and the continuation of Jim Crow discrimination....
- Ida B. Wells - Wikipedia
Wells won her case on December 24, 1884, when the local circuit court granted her a $500 (~$17,917 in 2025) award. The railroad company appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court, which reversed the lower court's ruling in 1887.
This fact check is free and donation-based. $1 powers ~30 fact-checks.
