Exploring the Text

1. What ethos does Ida B. Wells-Barnett establish in the preface? How do the diction and imagery of this opening section appeal to the pathos of her audience?

   Question

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   Exploring the Text: - What ethos does Ida B. Wells-Barnett establish in the preface? How do the diction and imagery of this opening section appeal to the pathos of her audience?
2. How does Wells-Barnett support her claim that “[t]here is little difference between the Ante-bellum South and the New South” (par. 6)?

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   Exploring the Text: - How does Wells-Barnett support her claim that “[t]here is little difference between the Ante-bellum South and the New South” (par. 6)?
3. What efforts to stop the “insiduous influence” (par. 8) of lynch laws does she acknowledge? Why does she believe those efforts have been largely ineffective?

   Question

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   Exploring the Text: - What efforts to stop the “insiduous influence” (par. 8) of lynch laws does she acknowledge? Why does she believe those efforts have been largely ineffective?
4. Wells-Barnett argues that “the Afro-American can do for himself what no one else can do for him” (par. 12). What specific strategies does she advocate? Which appeal to economic interests? Which are based on an-eye-for-an-eye justice? Which seem most feasible to you?

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   Exploring the Text: - Wells-Barnett argues that “the Afro-American can do for himself what no one else can do for him” (par. 12). What specific strategies does she advocate? Which appeal to economic interests? Which are based on an-eye-for-an-eye justice? Which seem most feasible to you?
5. Why does Wells-Barnett claim that “there is no educator to compare with the press” (par. 20)? Does she refer to a specific press or to the press in general?

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   Exploring the Text: - Why does Wells-Barnett claim that “there is no educator to compare with the press” (par. 20)? Does she refer to a specific press or to the press in general?
6. What impact do the examples—that is, the actual cases—that she cites have? Do you think these serve as effective support for the claims she makes? Why or why not?

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   Exploring the Text: - What impact do the examples—that is, the actual cases—that she cites have? Do you think these serve as effective support for the claims she makes? Why or why not?
7. To what extent has Wells-Barnett made the case that the lynch law is “that last relic of barbarism and slavery” (par. 26), as she describes it? Has she sufficiently prepared her audience for such strong rhetoric? Explain your response with specific reference to the text.

   Question

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   Exploring the Text: - To what extent has Wells-Barnett made the case that the lynch law is “that last relic of barbarism and slavery” (par. 26), as she describes it? Has she sufficiently prepared her audience for such strong rhetoric? Explain your response with specific reference to the text.