April 7 In America’s History William Monroe Trotter’s Birthday

William Monroe Trotter was an incredible force of nature. He was before his time by right on time in the struggle for black civil and social rights. Mr. Trotter came from a family of activists who lead the mired towards the abolition of slavery. He was directly related to Hemings family line with the Jeffersonian Americans of African Descent. Mr. Trotter put in all to ensuring that our ancestors were provided the truth in the press. His newspaper The Guardian was the ultimate voice of black communities not only in Boston where it was published but also across the nation.

In addition to fighting the white voices of oppression, Mr. Trotter fought the primary black voices of social accommodation lead by Booker T. Washington. Mr. Washington was the most notable person of color in America but that didn’t stop Mr. Trotter from challenging his views regarding racial progress in the nation, and how to achieve it. In addition to those battles Mr. Trotter was instrumental in the formation of the historic Niagara Movement which eventually lead to the formation of the NAACP.

Mr. Trotter was focused, intent, and determined. These characteristics also included a brashness that could turn off associates in the struggle. But no one questioned Monroe Trotter’s passion or his desire to get the job done. That is why two of his best encounters included confronting the President of the United States Woodrow Wilson first when Wilson attempted to hush him during a White House meeting of black leaders regarding the segregation of federal departments employees. The second when he went toe to toe with Wilson and D.W. Griffins on that god awful film, The Birth of a Nation. Which Wilson had the audacity of showing to a White House audience.

You couldn’t hush William Monroe Trotter not a President or any other person if Mr. Trotter knew he was on the right side of justice. As the years went by the stress of constant battles took there toll on William Monroe Trotter and he took his own life. But in reality America took his life for Mr. Trotter couldn’t bear to continue to fight a battle that seemingly had no end. Today, I celebrate his birthday but more than that I would like our black communities to put William Monroe Trotter on the highest of pedestals for delivering services to our people’s. The impact of his valuable work is still evident today. I read the book Black Radical on my reading project, The Blackman Read Aloud Hour Project. So many of my followers are familiar with William Monroe Trotter because many of the books I’ve read mentioned him. Today we should cherish the man and his spirit for that spirit should be in each of us who strive for a compassionate and just society.