"Our country's national crime is lynching. It is not the creature of an hour, the sudden outburst of uncontrolled fury, or the unspeakable brutality of an insane mob"

This quote by Ida B. Wells talks to the systemic bigotry and violence that has been inflicted upon African Americans in the United States for centuries. Wells is highlighting the truth that lynching is not a one-off occasion, but rather an enduring and pervasive issue in our nation. She is highlighting that lynching is not an outcome of a single minute of rage or a single act of brutality, but rather a product of a larger system of injustice and violence. Wells is calling attention to the reality that lynching is a nationwide criminal activity, which it is not something that can be overlooked or swept under the carpet. She is urging us to acknowledge the intensity of this concern and to take action to address it.