A picture of a lynching in Virginia.

ThingWhen Ida returned to the United States from her second trip abroad, the American public received her with open arms. Though her tour in Europe had been plagued by controversy, she had grown essentially to become widely recognized as the "lynch law queen." Ida used her newfound support by touring the country tirelessly, hopping from the East to the West Coast in hopes of not only giving lectures, but forming some anti-lynching societies as well. She also concentrated her efforts on publishing A Red Record, a new compilation with more facts and a detailed account of some very gruesome lynchings, and later Lynch Law in Georgia, another powerful manuscript that roused the sentiments to her crusade. It was around this time that a particular sad story caught Ida's attention. It was the death of postmaster Frazier B. Baker.

ThingBaker had been one of the few African-Americans raised to a position as high as post-master in his town of Lake City, South Carolina. Apparently a good deal of whites in Baker's town thought bitterly that such rank and prestige should never be give to a black man. One night in February of 1898, a mob of at least a hundred gathered outside of Baker's home. They set fire to his property and watched as the house burned down. When the family tried to flee from the flames Baker and his infant son were killed, while his wife and five other children were wounded.

THingIda could hardly contain her outrage when she learned of the story. Baker had been murdered in cold blood. What made matters worse was that he had been a respected employee of the government. Surely in this case, justice would be served. There would be a federal investigation and the proper persons would be tried and punished--it was only right, she thought. Thus, though she was now burdened by a five month old baby, Herman, Ida didn't hesitate from acting right away. She was elected to take the case to Washington D.C., and she proudly journeyed there carrying her baby. Ida had no qualms about protesting to President McKinley on behalf of Baker, either. She said, "Nowhere in the civilized world save the United States do men go out in bands to hunt downshoot, hang, or burn to death an individual. Postmaster Baker's case was a federal matter, pure and simple. He died at his post of duty in defense of his country's honor, as truly as did ever a soldier on the field of battle."

ThingIda alluding to Baker as a "soldier" was interesting indeed, since just then the United States was embarking upon war with Spain over Cuba. Yet, this meant that President McKinley had other pressing matters to attend to. As a result, Ida's efforts were not especially fruitful. Eleven men were charged in the Baker case, but a hung jury resulted in all of them being dismissed. Even so, Ida was able to procure monetary compensation for Baker's widowed wife.

THingIda decided to do her part in the Spanish-American War effort. Firstly, since she believed that black men had every right to fight alongside white men in battle, she joined with other members of her hometown in Chicago to form the Eighth Illinois Infantry, a black unit. She played her own role as a volunteer in hospitals and offices of camps. Ida hoped that by fighting fearlessly for their country and doing their duty, blacks would show that they, too, were valuable to the growth of the nation. She and many others of her time hoped that perhaps after the war they would be treated more fairly and given all of their rights.