Elizabeth Cochran was born on May 5, 1864 in, Cochran’s Mills, Pennsylvania. As one watches these videos depicting the life and work of, Elizabeth who became widely known by her pen name as, “Nellie Bly” you have to admire her ethics, determination, and loving brave heart.
She was an investigative journalist, novelist, business manager, inventor, and most importantly a strong Human Rights advocate. She was ahead of her time and chose to write about both men and women’s issues. She worked from the right disposition, and that is Human Rights apply to ALL Humans especially the vulnerable, voiceless, suffering, and helpless. In November of 1887 she wrote about the callous and cruel human trafficking of babies that was going on in New York. Unfortunately since those days trafficking has exploded into the millions in America and all over the world.
It took enormous courage for her to expose the evils of her time. She risked her life to infiltrate the notorious mental asylum on, Blackwell’s Island, and expose the horrendous conditions and treatment of the patients. When she saw injustices she would go under cover, investigate, and write about the issue so that it could be exposed and changed by society. She fought for Women, men, and children’s Rights, and when we say, “Rights” we mean real Human Rights. Real Human Rights protect and ensure the safety of All human beings, not the manipulative excuse of Human Rights that is so flippantly thrown about today. When Nellie fought for Human Rights she was fighting for fair and balanced equality, real justice to protect All humanity, free speech, life, and liberty. She shone a light on what was going on in jails, sweatshops and even exposed bribery. While working for the, “New York World” from 1887 to 1889, she acquired national fame for her investigative writing and became a journalistic legend. Nellie died on January 27, 1922, at 57 years old in, New York. She is one lady of history who we will remember as having made an impact on society and left this world a better place because of her life and work.
