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jaraddavis02's review against another edition
5.0
“Like most of her neighbors, McKane wanted “the white people [to] realize that no matter how good their intentions are they cannot think in black.”...”
This quote, from Kerri K. Greendige’s Black Radical, stands out as a pithy summary of this remarkable book. Black Radical is a thorough explanation of the life and legacy of William Monroe Trotter. Trotter was the founder of The Guardian, a Black radicalist newspaper and went toe to toe with some of the country’s most powerful figures as he fought for the rights of Black people. Although he experienced privilege in his upbringing and a good portion of his adult life, this Harvard educated man emphatically challenged the policies and practices that oppressed all Black people, particularly the genteel poor. Less iconic, now, than Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, he went to battle with both, the former for his accommodationist ideals and the latter for his elitist principles.
The book goes into great detail of all Trotter endured to simply ensure Black Americans had basic human rights. We clearly don’t know enough about this man in American history, as he is rarely brought up as one of the co-founders of the Niagara Movement (Du Bois is usually the recognizable co-founder). Greenidge also does a good job of not heaping effusive praise on Trotter. She delves into some of his faults, frailties, and idiosyncrasies. Ultimately, Trotter was a flawed human being who did all he could to leave a lasting legacy of social justice.
What really stood out to me in this book was the role faith played in the Black Radical politics of Trotter and his colleagues. Trotter was devout Christian and many of his comrades in the movement were Black radical preachers and pastors. This stands out to me because we see a lot of Black clerics who take on the assimilationist mindsets articulated by the white evangelical church. But I’m reminded, historically, Black clergy have been just as adamant as any in the constant battle for civil rights.
I recommend this book to get a view of history that oft times goes unrecognized.
This quote, from Kerri K. Greendige’s Black Radical, stands out as a pithy summary of this remarkable book. Black Radical is a thorough explanation of the life and legacy of William Monroe Trotter. Trotter was the founder of The Guardian, a Black radicalist newspaper and went toe to toe with some of the country’s most powerful figures as he fought for the rights of Black people. Although he experienced privilege in his upbringing and a good portion of his adult life, this Harvard educated man emphatically challenged the policies and practices that oppressed all Black people, particularly the genteel poor. Less iconic, now, than Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, he went to battle with both, the former for his accommodationist ideals and the latter for his elitist principles.
The book goes into great detail of all Trotter endured to simply ensure Black Americans had basic human rights. We clearly don’t know enough about this man in American history, as he is rarely brought up as one of the co-founders of the Niagara Movement (Du Bois is usually the recognizable co-founder). Greenidge also does a good job of not heaping effusive praise on Trotter. She delves into some of his faults, frailties, and idiosyncrasies. Ultimately, Trotter was a flawed human being who did all he could to leave a lasting legacy of social justice.
What really stood out to me in this book was the role faith played in the Black Radical politics of Trotter and his colleagues. Trotter was devout Christian and many of his comrades in the movement were Black radical preachers and pastors. This stands out to me because we see a lot of Black clerics who take on the assimilationist mindsets articulated by the white evangelical church. But I’m reminded, historically, Black clergy have been just as adamant as any in the constant battle for civil rights.
I recommend this book to get a view of history that oft times goes unrecognized.
readandchill23's review against another edition
5.0
Timely. For so many reasons. Happy I picked this up during Black History Month and finished it on Super Tuesday 2020. It gives a broader perspective on how I should vote, why my vote matters and how I, as a black woman, am viewed by the major political parties and activists in different socio-economic backgrounds.
One question led me to this book: "Who were the leaders that took a more direct stance on race relations and demanded equality and equity during the Reconstruction era?" W.E.B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington were the only names whispered in a classroom setting and not much was really taught about them other than their work to show white folks at the time that black are capable of intelligence beyond white assumptions/admissions. Honestly (and unfortunately), they were a bit more class-focused and spoke up more for those on their socio-economic level (or had the means to achieve it.) Furthermore, they were pretty soft in pushing anti-lynching legislation and stopping the acceptance of segregation.
Monroe Trotter was the fiery answer to what they lacked, even with his unsteady support from politicians, decision makers and other upper class black folks. He was radical because he was a man who constantly fought for the black working class in which he was not a part of for the majority of his life (not until the tragic tail end of it). However, what he wanted shouldn't have been conveyed as radical at all. He fought long and hard for all black folks to be seen as tax-paying, hard-working citizens of the U.S. who should be afforded the same chances as their white counterparts. He wanted white people to acknowledge the pure and raw humanity of black folks in order to eliminate the violence against them. Sound familiar?
This book is not only detailed in how white-appeasing the NAACP was during its inception, but also painted a picture of how free and upper middle class black folks lived on the east coast after the Civil War well into the Reconstruction era and through the turn of the century. The political powers that be haven't changed ONE BIT. Both Republicans and Democrats then and now only care about two things: votes (that leads to power to uphold white supremacy) and money (the capitalistic foundation of sustaining white supremacy). Accounts in this book hold evidence of how the politicians at the time ignored calls against and solutions to the growing Jim Crow laws, the increase of lynching (especially against black veterans), violence against black folks, and voter suppression in the same way they ignore police brutality, mass incarceration, wage gaps and voter suppression today.
I don't have the words to express how I felt while reading this. I wish I could articulate my sorrow and disappointment while rooting for Monroe Trotter and the possibility of real change for evolving black communities in the east and struggling black communities in the South and Midwest. His fight is still a fight today. That's a hard pill to swallow.
Be warned: this book is class. It is dense; loaded with information. It reads like a history book. Filled with names upon names and committees upon committees trying to bring about change and opportunities for black folks in a society that saw (and still see) us as subhuman. No one can ever say black folks didn't try. No one can ever say black folks are currently not trying. But, maybe after reading this book and absorbing the history, black, brown and white folks alike can remember black folks like Monroe Trotter. Maybe they can admit that, just like their ancestors before them, they're just not paying attention.
One question led me to this book: "Who were the leaders that took a more direct stance on race relations and demanded equality and equity during the Reconstruction era?" W.E.B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington were the only names whispered in a classroom setting and not much was really taught about them other than their work to show white folks at the time that black are capable of intelligence beyond white assumptions/admissions. Honestly (and unfortunately), they were a bit more class-focused and spoke up more for those on their socio-economic level (or had the means to achieve it.) Furthermore, they were pretty soft in pushing anti-lynching legislation and stopping the acceptance of segregation.
Monroe Trotter was the fiery answer to what they lacked, even with his unsteady support from politicians, decision makers and other upper class black folks. He was radical because he was a man who constantly fought for the black working class in which he was not a part of for the majority of his life (not until the tragic tail end of it). However, what he wanted shouldn't have been conveyed as radical at all. He fought long and hard for all black folks to be seen as tax-paying, hard-working citizens of the U.S. who should be afforded the same chances as their white counterparts. He wanted white people to acknowledge the pure and raw humanity of black folks in order to eliminate the violence against them. Sound familiar?
This book is not only detailed in how white-appeasing the NAACP was during its inception, but also painted a picture of how free and upper middle class black folks lived on the east coast after the Civil War well into the Reconstruction era and through the turn of the century. The political powers that be haven't changed ONE BIT. Both Republicans and Democrats then and now only care about two things: votes (that leads to power to uphold white supremacy) and money (the capitalistic foundation of sustaining white supremacy). Accounts in this book hold evidence of how the politicians at the time ignored calls against and solutions to the growing Jim Crow laws, the increase of lynching (especially against black veterans), violence against black folks, and voter suppression in the same way they ignore police brutality, mass incarceration, wage gaps and voter suppression today.
I don't have the words to express how I felt while reading this. I wish I could articulate my sorrow and disappointment while rooting for Monroe Trotter and the possibility of real change for evolving black communities in the east and struggling black communities in the South and Midwest. His fight is still a fight today. That's a hard pill to swallow.
Be warned: this book is class. It is dense; loaded with information. It reads like a history book. Filled with names upon names and committees upon committees trying to bring about change and opportunities for black folks in a society that saw (and still see) us as subhuman. No one can ever say black folks didn't try. No one can ever say black folks are currently not trying. But, maybe after reading this book and absorbing the history, black, brown and white folks alike can remember black folks like Monroe Trotter. Maybe they can admit that, just like their ancestors before them, they're just not paying attention.
julianbaldwin0's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Hate crime
k_b00kish's review against another edition
3.0
Fascinating story of an African American political advocate and Guardian newspaper owner. Thank you for the discovery of a new story of Black history
arisbookcorner's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
"His ambitious plan for the Guardian to 'hold a mirror up to nature' meant that he cultivated radical black political consciousness without dictating its parameters." (102)
"But the two men would never agree on one simple, but significant racial reality-that white people, as Trotter put it, could not be depended upon for the type of racial justice that black people deserved." (316)
BLACK RADICAL is a thoroughly researched biography about a compelling and charismatic Black Bostonian leader, Monroe Trotter. Having previously only thought about Black people in Boston in relation to abolition and Harvard this book definitely gave me a greater appreciation for Black Bostonians' contributions to the fight for Black liberation in the early 20th century. At times the writing was dense and I'd have to set it down in order to properly re-engage but I learned a lot and enjoyed some of the petty stories shared. Additionally Greenridge naturally and convincingly draws comparisons between the organizing and political conditions of the post Reconstruction era and the present day, making sure the readers understand what lessons they should and should not take away from Trotter's complicated legacy. He prioritized the concerns and demands of Black working class people and had a theatrical leadership style that worked well for the moment but he was also egotistical and sexist. Many, but not all, of his speeches and beliefs hold up today but one of my favorites was his view about white people, particularly white progressives "But the two men would never agree on one simple, but significant racial reality-that white people, as Trotter put it, could not be depended upon for the type of racial justice that black people deserved" (316). Greenridge writes Trotter as a fully developed, three dimensional figure of history important for any aspiring or current racial justice activist to know.
"But the two men would never agree on one simple, but significant racial reality-that white people, as Trotter put it, could not be depended upon for the type of racial justice that black people deserved." (316)
BLACK RADICAL is a thoroughly researched biography about a compelling and charismatic Black Bostonian leader, Monroe Trotter. Having previously only thought about Black people in Boston in relation to abolition and Harvard this book definitely gave me a greater appreciation for Black Bostonians' contributions to the fight for Black liberation in the early 20th century. At times the writing was dense and I'd have to set it down in order to properly re-engage but I learned a lot and enjoyed some of the petty stories shared. Additionally Greenridge naturally and convincingly draws comparisons between the organizing and political conditions of the post Reconstruction era and the present day, making sure the readers understand what lessons they should and should not take away from Trotter's complicated legacy. He prioritized the concerns and demands of Black working class people and had a theatrical leadership style that worked well for the moment but he was also egotistical and sexist. Many, but not all, of his speeches and beliefs hold up today but one of my favorites was his view about white people, particularly white progressives "But the two men would never agree on one simple, but significant racial reality-that white people, as Trotter put it, could not be depended upon for the type of racial justice that black people deserved" (316). Greenridge writes Trotter as a fully developed, three dimensional figure of history important for any aspiring or current racial justice activist to know.
kevinmccarrick's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
komet2020's review against another edition
4.0
If ever there was a personage of note who merited a serious biography, William Monroe Trotter (1872-1934) fits the bill. In life, he was a tireless fighter and uncompromising supporter of the African American community (and by extension, people of color throughout the world) at a time in which it was oppressed by overt white supremacy and Jim Crow segregation laws.
Trotter had the sheer guts to challenge face-to-face President Wilson in the White House over his implementation of rigid segregation of the federal government in 1913, which led to many African American federal employees losing their jobs or being demoted. He also --- despite the U.S. government denying him a passport --- managed to sail incognito to Paris in 1919, where he presented to European leaders who had gathered there for the Paris Peace Conference, "the colored world's demands" for democracy and socio-economic justice and equality. What's more: upon returning to the United States, Trotter and a group of like-minded "race men" (a term that was then used to describe African Americans who with an uncompromising sense of purpose, devoted their lives to fighting for equal rights for African Americans) met with the Republican Senate Majority Leader (Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts, whom Trotter, a Bostonian, knew well) and various members of Congress to unsuccessfully push for passage of an anti-lynching bill.
Prior to entering college, I knew absolutely nothing about William Monroe Trotter. It wasn't until I took an American History course that Trotter entered my consciousness. But I wasn't inclined to search out information about his life until I chanced upon this biography several months ago.
Trotter came from a family of strivers, abolitionists, and civil rights advocates (his father joined the Union Army during the Civil War and was promoted to lieutenant by war's end; he later moved to Massachusetts, where he became involved in Republican Party politics and real estate; later he received the sinecure of a position in the U.S. government as Recorder of Deeds). Trotter, an only son, attended Harvard (where he became acquainted with W.E.B. Du Bois), graduated Phi Beta Kappa in the early 1890s, went into real estate (which added to his wealth), acquired ownership of a newspaper in 1901, and began his lifelong commitment to bettering the lot of "colored people" in the U.S.
From reading "BLACK RADICAL" it became clear to me how much Trotter sacrificed --- and lost in an era characterized by the retreat (since 1877) of the federal government from upholding and supporting African American rights as enshrined in the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution and widespread disfranchisement and marginalization of African Americans in mainstream society.
Unlike other African American leaders (e.g. Booker T. Washington) who promoted economic self-sufficiency at the expense of full political and civil rights for African Americans, Trotter stood out for his principled stand for full social, economic, and political rights for his people. In the process, he locked horns with a lot of people, and at times let his ego get the best of him. In reading this biography, I ached for this man who, as he entered middle age, endured a lot of personal tragedies, health complaints, and emerged as a broken man.
It is my hope that --- amid the present "Black Lives Matter" movement and the ongoing struggles for social and economic justice in the U.S. today --- more people will take it upon themselves to learn about William Monroe Trotter and keep him close to their hearts.
(My only complaint with this biography is the lack of photographs of Trotter, his family, and several of the people who figured prominently in his life. Hence, I opted to give "BLACK RADICAL" 4 stars only.)
Trotter had the sheer guts to challenge face-to-face President Wilson in the White House over his implementation of rigid segregation of the federal government in 1913, which led to many African American federal employees losing their jobs or being demoted. He also --- despite the U.S. government denying him a passport --- managed to sail incognito to Paris in 1919, where he presented to European leaders who had gathered there for the Paris Peace Conference, "the colored world's demands" for democracy and socio-economic justice and equality. What's more: upon returning to the United States, Trotter and a group of like-minded "race men" (a term that was then used to describe African Americans who with an uncompromising sense of purpose, devoted their lives to fighting for equal rights for African Americans) met with the Republican Senate Majority Leader (Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts, whom Trotter, a Bostonian, knew well) and various members of Congress to unsuccessfully push for passage of an anti-lynching bill.
Prior to entering college, I knew absolutely nothing about William Monroe Trotter. It wasn't until I took an American History course that Trotter entered my consciousness. But I wasn't inclined to search out information about his life until I chanced upon this biography several months ago.
Trotter came from a family of strivers, abolitionists, and civil rights advocates (his father joined the Union Army during the Civil War and was promoted to lieutenant by war's end; he later moved to Massachusetts, where he became involved in Republican Party politics and real estate; later he received the sinecure of a position in the U.S. government as Recorder of Deeds). Trotter, an only son, attended Harvard (where he became acquainted with W.E.B. Du Bois), graduated Phi Beta Kappa in the early 1890s, went into real estate (which added to his wealth), acquired ownership of a newspaper in 1901, and began his lifelong commitment to bettering the lot of "colored people" in the U.S.
From reading "BLACK RADICAL" it became clear to me how much Trotter sacrificed --- and lost in an era characterized by the retreat (since 1877) of the federal government from upholding and supporting African American rights as enshrined in the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution and widespread disfranchisement and marginalization of African Americans in mainstream society.
Unlike other African American leaders (e.g. Booker T. Washington) who promoted economic self-sufficiency at the expense of full political and civil rights for African Americans, Trotter stood out for his principled stand for full social, economic, and political rights for his people. In the process, he locked horns with a lot of people, and at times let his ego get the best of him. In reading this biography, I ached for this man who, as he entered middle age, endured a lot of personal tragedies, health complaints, and emerged as a broken man.
It is my hope that --- amid the present "Black Lives Matter" movement and the ongoing struggles for social and economic justice in the U.S. today --- more people will take it upon themselves to learn about William Monroe Trotter and keep him close to their hearts.
(My only complaint with this biography is the lack of photographs of Trotter, his family, and several of the people who figured prominently in his life. Hence, I opted to give "BLACK RADICAL" 4 stars only.)
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