‘Not biologically related’: Great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells clears up theory Nolan Wells is a descendant of the famed journalist and activist
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The viral claim has spread like wildfire since Wells’ disappearance earlier this month. But the legendary journalist’s great-granddaughter is hoping more people stop the misinformation.
Contrary to popular belief, Nolan Wells is not related to iconic journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells.
After a social media rumor claiming that the late Mississippi athlete was related to Wells was widely shared online, the icon’s great-granddaughter issued a statement.
“My cousin was like, ‘Is this true?’ Because she wouldn’t know, because she’s on the other side of my family,” Duster told PEOPLE. The cousin sent Duster a screenshot of a social media post falsely claiming that the teen was related to them. It didn’t stop with the screenshot as Duster began receiving messages across various social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook and Instagram from relatives, friends and even strangers, curious if the claim that Nolan was related to her great-grandmother was true.
“That’s when I was like, ‘What is going on?’” Duster, an author and public historian who lives in Chicago, said.
The 62-year-old understands the hysteria that has come after Wells’ disappearance and death became a national news story. She and her brother, Dan Duster, both began receiving messages regarding the late teen, and Duster knew flatly that Nolan wasn’t a relative.
“I know my family tree,” she told Capital B News.
Ida B. Wells and Nolan Wells: Spiritually connected, but not biologically
On July 29, she posted a statement on Facebook debunking the claim that had become widely popular and shared online.
“If you are interested in the genealogy of Ida B. Wells and her brothers, we know that her two brothers Stanley and Eddie died in infancy,” Duster wrote. “And per our family’s research, there are no descendants of her brothers George and James past the 1960s. For those who want to do independent research on all branches of the Wells family, there are sources such as Ancestry, vital statistics, Find a Grave, and more.”
Concerning the connection, she wrote, “I understand why that is believable since they have the same last name. Nolan was born 18 years ago and lived in southern Mississippi. Ida B. Wells was born 164 years ago in northern Mississippi. She was a fighter for truth and justice, and justice is needed for Nolan. Although they might be spiritually connected, they are not biologically related. Nolan simply has the same last name as Ida’s maiden name.”
After Wells married Ferdinand Barnett, Wells took the name Ida B. Wells-Barnett and their children took the surname Barnett. Once one of the couple’s daughters married, she became a Duster. By that account, no one related to Ida B. Wells would continue to have her surname after she married and then her children married.
“It’s a very emotionally charged case because of historical precedent, specifically in Mississippi, and so I understand why people are trying to figure out what happened to him but then also what is happening when it comes to the investigation,” Duster says. “I understand why people are really, really keeping close track of everything, and my heart goes out to the family. It’s hard to imagine the level of pain that they all must be going through.”
Still, Duster believed the heightened awareness of the case has also prompted a much larger story to be told about internet regulation, particularly regarding how misinformation can quickly spread online.
“I strongly feel that this situation connecting Ida to Nolan without any fact behind it is not only about that,” Duster said. “It’s about the lack of regulation on social media to ensure that what people are putting out there is true, but it’s also about people doing the research to make sure what they’re saying is true.”
She added, “As a country, we are at a point where some people will continue with the narrative that they prefer even though it’s not factual.”
The investigation into Nolan Wells’ death reached a new stage on Friday. The official autopsy for the 18-year-old was completed, and the information from it, including the cause of death determined by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office, will be presented to a grand jury. An independent autopsy ordered by Nolan’s family left more questions than answers.