Susan Whiting: Chicago activist Ida B. Wells changes the face of American currency
As a relative of Susan B. Anthony, I have spent much of my life reflecting on the power of stories that reveal struggles and celebrate the triumphs and progress that inspire future generations. As chair of the National Women's History Museum, I turned that reflection into action, in which we believe women's history is not a footnote — it's the headline. Our mission is to amplify women's voices to spark action and inspire young women to lead the charge toward a fair and promising future.
Because I'm a proud Chicago native, this mission is especially meaningful. This month, I will join Michelle and Dan Duster, Ida B. Wells' great-grandchildren, to celebrate Wells' rightful place in history on a U.S. quarter.
My organization serves as a consultant to the U.S. Mint on the American Women Quarters program, which aims to do more than honor individual women. It challenges long-held beliefs that have hidden women's contributions by transforming the narrative — not by erasing the past but by enriching it to ensure it reflects the diversity of the people who shaped our nation.
On Wednesday, we gathered at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center to honor Wells' legacy and celebrate this historical recognition. The event commemorated Wells to inspire a new generation to carry her torch. Chicago, where she demonstrated her courage, was the perfect place for this celebration. Let's think about the young girls who will see Wells' face on a quarter and learn her story. What will they dream of because of her example?
Wells dedicated her life to fighting for racial and gender equality and exposing injustice. Her legacy reminds us that we build progress on courage and determination.
She was born into slavery in Mississippi in 1862 and became one of our country's most fearless journalists and an unyielding advocate for racial equality who documented the atrocities of lynching. Wells co-founded the NAACP and laid the groundwork for civil rights movements that continue today. To hold a quarter bearing her likeness is holding a piece of history — it is a testament to her courage, a reminder of how far we've come and still must go.
Chicago is central to Wells' legacy. Here, she led campaigns against racial discrimination, fought for fair housing and raised her voice to demand justice. Her legacy can still be seen and felt in the city — from the institutions she influenced to the community activism she inspired. The Ida B. Wells Homes, once a cornerstone of Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, and the street bearing her name are reminders of her enduring contributions. Honoring her on our currency, we affirm her place in Chicago's history and our national story.
Wells' legacy is a reminder of the power of truth. Her work exposing lynching was not just journalism; it was activism. She once said, 'The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.' As we celebrate her inclusion in the American Women Quarters Program, we shine a light on her truth. Her story calls on all of us to confront the inequities that remain and to honor the courage required to challenge them.
Why do these stories still matter? Why must we know them, remember them and, yes, see them on our currency? Because representation shapes reality. For too long, our currency has reflected only a narrow slice of American history, sidelining the contributions of women and people of color.
The images we choose to honor — those we carry in our wallets, exchange in transactions and pass between generations — speak volumes about who we value as a society. When women such as Wells grace our quarters, we normalize the presence of women in places of prominence and power. We affirm that their legacies deserve to be seen and remembered by everyone.
Representation matters, and it shapes what's possible. When we see Wells and other women whose voices and contributions have shaped our nation, we're emboldened to continue their work. As we carry Wells' story with us, we also carry her mission: to turn the light of truth on injustice and create a more equitable world for everyone.
Together, we can ensure that women's history is not a footnote.
Susan Whiting is the former vice chair of Nielsen and the chair of the National Women's History Museum board. She currently is a board member for and adviser to for-profit and nonprofit organizations in Chicago and nationwide.
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