"The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the crowd"
- Ida B. Wells
About this Quote
This quote by Ida B. Wells paints a vivid and troubling image of the brutality of lynching mobs in the 19th century. It talks to the dreadful violence caused upon victims of lynching, with the mob cutting off ears, toes, and fingers, and stripping off flesh. The quote also speaks with the wickedness of the mob, as they dispersed portions of the victim's body as souvenirs amongst the crowd. This quote acts as a reminder of the brutality of lynching and the bigotry that sustained it. It also works as a tip of the need to continue to fight versus bigotry and injustice in all its kinds.
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