The Heroes We Need Today: Teaching About the Radical Ida B. Wells.

This article focuses on the renaming of Woodrow Wilson High School to Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School and the development of a curriculum to teach students about the full, radical legacy of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, a prominent civil rights activist, journalist, and co-founder of the NAACP. Educators created a weeklong curriculum camp and a role-play "mixer" activity that immerses students in key moments of Wells’ life, highlighting her activism against racial violence, lynching, and inequality, as well as her work in suffrage and migrant justice. The curriculum aims to move beyond generalized themes of tolerance to emphasize Wells’ commitment to truth-telling, resistance, and multiracial organizing. Student responses revealed newfound appreciation for Wells’ multifaceted activism and personal sacrifices, aligning with the school community’s goal to inspire deeper engagement with her legacy.