Thursday marks the 90 th anniversary of the death of pioneering journalist and activist Ida B. Wells , one of the most famous and influential Black leaders of the late 19 th and early 20 th century. During her long career, Wells was instrumental in the fight against lynching , co-founded the NAACP  and played an important role in the women’s suffrage movement. Though many of her contributions were washed out of history, her legacy has been revived and acknowledgment of her contributions continues to grow. Here are five things to know about the legendary journalist.