Michelle Duster, great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells, is a writer, speaker, and project manager who highlights the positive contributions of African Americans. She has written numerous articles and essays as well as the books, Ida In Her Own Words (BW Publishing, 2008) and Ida From Abroad (BW Publishing, 2010). She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire and an M.A. in Communications from the New School for Social Research in New York City.
What influence does Ida B. Wells have on you?
I am inspired by the fact that she was such a good writer, who used her skills to fight for justice. She believed so strongly in her cause that she was willing to risk her life in order to tell the truth. I also admire the fact that she was willing to sacrifice her own comfort and
willing to work alone in order to do something she believed in.
What is your favorite quote from Ida B. Wells and why?
“Your opinion does not impeach the facts.” – I love this quote because it’s absolutely true. No matter how much people want to live in denial of what’s really going on, their opinion about the situation doesn’t override the reality.
What is the most recent work you have done as a project manager?
I’ve worked with a couple of friends to put together a few seminars for writers to work on their writing work and other aspects of the process of getting books produced and sold. We’ve produced seminars on writing, publishing and marketing.
