William+Monroe+Trotter


 * by Morris, grade 6**

William Monroe Trotter was a radical activist. He wanted freedom, just like everyone else. He came up with very effective boycotts, speeches and more. He wrote some books. Also he helped form the Niagara Movement.

William Monroe Trotter was born April 7, 1873. He was the third child in the family. William's father was the son of a white man. His mother was the great grand-daughter of Mary Hemmings and Thomas Jefferson.

When Trotter got older, he was a valedictorian at Harvard. Also, he earned his Master's degree. Williams wife's name was Geraldine Louise Pindell. His wife was very supportive. William and his friend George Forbes published a newspaper called the Boston Guardian. When the newspaper was developing it was known as "the outstanding Negro newspaper devoted to political agitation". The newspaper was mainly about all the horrible things that were happening in the South.

William also campaigned against Thomas Dixon's play "The Clansmen". He had speeches about federal segregation. He led a protest against Woodrow Wilson's decision not to desegregate employment in the federal government.

William later died in 1934 of an apparent suicide. After that day he was known as an icon or an influential figure. Also his life was put in a book so the people can see: the book of William Monroe Trotter.