Ida B. Wells and the Civic Repertoire: Canonization through Justice-Oriented Historical Sociology

• In Event: Theorists and Theories in the History of Sociology and Social Thought

Abstract

This paper interrogates debates around the sociological canon by tracing the resurgent—yet still contested—campaign to recognize Ida B. Wells as a foundational theorist of the discipline. We show how early recoveries focused on correcting historical neglect, but more recently, scholars and organizations have argued that including Wells is a matter of contemporary moral urgency, relevant to questions of public responsibility, race, and justice. Using historical analysis of key texts, conferences, and institutional initiatives, we demonstrate how the case for Wells challenges prevailing conceptions of “classics” and demands reconsideration of the criteria by which theorists are elevated. As we show, the ongoing struggles over Wells’ recognition illuminate not just the exclusions and oversights of the canon, but also shifting theories of legitimacy and value within sociology. The case of Wells thus highlights broader debates over who belongs in the canon and why—core issues at the heart of the history of social thought.

Authors

• Samuel David Stabler, CUNY-Hunter College

• Shai M. Dromi, Harvard University