About this Project
The Ida B. Wells Lecture is an annual event sponsored by the Department of Women and Gender Studies at the University of Delaware. The lecture is named for Ida B. Wells, an investigative journalist and early civil rights activist who spoke to audiences across the country to expose the horrors of lynching. Its goal is to elevate the work of Black feminist scholars, artists and activists and to expose University of Delaware students, faculty, staff and alumni to their work. This lecture will guarantee that at least once annually, a Black speaker will be featured and honored in a campus-wide event.
The Ida B. Wells Lecture reflects the mission of The Department of Women and Gender Studies to provide students with the tools to develop their critical perspectives as scholars and social activists by promoting the use of intersectional approaches to recognize interlocking systems of oppression, whether they concern patriarchy, gender, race, class, ethnicity, age, sexuality and/or nationality. Through this event, UD students and faculty are exposed to important topics that enrich academic discourse and deepen understanding of social justice issues.
Our speaker this past year was Dr. Yusef Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five from the Central Park Five case. In 1989, Salaam and four other Black and Latinx young men were wrongfully convicted of raping and beating a white woman, Trisha Meili, who was jogging in New York’s Central Park. The Central Park Five spent 7 to 13 years in prison for a crime they did not commit. In 2002, their sentences were overturned and the Central Park Five became the Exonerated Five. Since his release, Dr. Salaam, who was recently elected to the New York City Council, has advocated for criminal justice reform, prison reform and the abolition of juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment.
Donor Impact: How your support makes a difference!
Your donation will play a direct role in ensuring the continuity and success of this annual event, providing crucial support for the event to enact positive social change, foster community engagement and amplify the voices of marginalized communities. These events contribute to creating a campus culture that values social justice, equity, human rights and empowers students to become agents of positive change in their communities and beyond. Thank you for your generosity!
