Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons^™

William Monroe Trotter: A One-Man Protester For Civil Rights, Robert C. Hayden

Trotter Review

William Monroe Trotter was the first, the only and the last of Boston’s significant protest leaders for civil rights, equality and justice for black Americans in this century. He gained national stature between 1901 and 1934.

Trotter was uncompromising in his demand for complete and immediate equality for black Americans in the early 1900s. His stress on militant protest for integration, legal and voting rights for blacks during the first quarter of this century became the hallmark of the modern civil rights movements of the 1954—65 period. William Monroe Trotter was a man 50 years ahead of his time.

William Monroe Trotter: A Twentieth Century Abolitionist, William A. Edwards

Trotter Review

William Monroe Trotter was a twentieth century abolitionist. He was a man of principle whose dedication to the cause of equality was never disputed. Many criticized his methodology, but the l960s saw a revitalization of his direct action approach. His life is an interesting profile in the study of leadership. He left no long standing organization, but in the history of the NAACP we can see his influence, His life is also the story of opportunities that converge but do not merge.

Geraldine Pindell Trotter, Julie Winch

Trotter Review

Geraldine Louise Pindell (or “Deenie” as she was known to those in her circle) was born on October 3, 1872, the daughter of lawyer Charles Edward Pindell and his wife, Mary Frances Pindell. Socially, the Pindells belonged to Boston’s black elite. Eschewing the Baptist and the AME churches, the Pindells were Episcopalians. Genteel, cultured and wealthy, the family was not without a commitment to the welfare of the larger black community. Geraldine’s great-uncle, William Pindell, had been one of the leaders in the struggle against school segregation in antebellum Boston.

Geraldine Pindell had known William Monroe Trotter, six months her …

Letter From Kelli To Congress, Kelli

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Rheanna To Congress, Rheanna

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Form Letter From John Thomas Regarding Desecration Of Burial Sites In Uniontown, Kentucky, John Thomas

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This one-page typed letter, circa March 1988, was written by John Thomas regarding the desecration of Indian graves in Uniontown, Kentucky. The letter includes quotations from the Los Angeles Times, AIM leader Dennis Banks, and anthropologist David Wolf attesting to the magnitude of the destruction. The letter appeals for funds to help with the various costs associated with the reburial ceremony.

Letter From John Thomas To John Denver, 1988, John Thomas

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This two-page typed letter from Shawnee representative John Thomas to Mr. Denver (presumably John Denver) was sent circa March 1988. Thomas explains the unprecedented extent of the damage done to Indian graves at Uniontown, Kentucky, and the need for support for the thousands of Native Americans planning to participate in the reburial ceremonies. Thomas also discusses the increased popularity of grave robbing and the need for improved legislation to address the issue.

Editor's Note, Wornie L. Reed

Trotter Review

Since this winter issue of the Trotter Institute Review coincides with Black History Month, we are dedicating this issue to an important figure in Afro-American history —- William Monroe Trotter, after whom the Institute was named.

The lead article is the transcript of a speech given by Massachusetts State Representative Byron Rushing during the Black History Month ceremony at the Massachusetts State House on February 1, 1987, on the importance of knowing black history. The other articles and the poem in this issue were taken from presentations made at a symposium on William Monroe Trotter during the re-opening celebration last …

Letter From Laurie To Congress, Laurie

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Sallye B. Mathis And Mary L. Singleton: Black Pioneers On The Jacksonville, Florida, City Council, Barbara Hunter Walch

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In 1967 Sallye Brooks Mathis and Mary Littlejohn Singleton were elected the first blacks in sixty years, and the first women ever, to the city council of Jacksonville, Florida. These two women had been raised in Jacksonville in a black community which, in spite of racial discrimination and segregation since the Civil War, had demonstrated positive leadership and cooperative action as it developed its own organizations and maintained a thriving civic life. Jacksonville blacks participated in politics when allowed to do so and initiated several economic boycotts and court suits to resist racial segregation. Black women played an important part …

Citizens Against Desecration Form Letter, 1988, Dennis Banks, William Thomas, Chico Dulak

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This one-page typed photocopied form letter from Citizens Against Desecration was created in 1988 to inform residents about the desecration of American Indian burial grounds in Union County, Kentucky. The letter provides details about the planned five-day reburial ceremony (the largest ever conducted in North America) including tobacco burning, prayers, songs and fasting. The letter requests financial help to cover food, transportation and lodging costs for those expected to attend.

Emergency Desecration Act Of The General Assembly Of Kentucky, General Assembly

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This three-page typed document, circa 1988, is an Act by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky regarding grave desecration. The Act has four sections; the first section labels the intentional excavation of human remains as a first-degree offense. Section two classifies offenses related to the desecration of venerated objects. Section three classifies the abuse of a corpse as a class D felony. Section four contextualizes the revised penalties and emergency nature of the Act in relation to ongoing grave robberies in Kentucky.

Draft Letter From Dennis Banks And John Thomas To “A Sense Of The Sacred” Project Team, Dennis Banks, John Thomas

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This two-page typed draft letter from Dennis Banks and John Thomas to "A Sense of the Sacred" Project Team was created circa 1988. The letter concerns a documentary project on the Indian grave desecrations in Union County, Kentucky. Banks and Thomas agree to work cooperatively and give priority access to the documentary crew for interviews and other events, but note that some rituals and individuals should not be photographed.

Shawnee Authorization Letter For John And William Thomas, Ron Sparkman

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This typed letter, circa 1988, provides authorization for John and William Thomas to work on behalf of the Shawnee Nation to reinter ancestral remains from disturbed burial grounds near Uniontown, Kentucky. The letter seeks assistance for the Thomases in their tasks and asks to help develop legislation to protect Indian burial sites in the future.

A handwritten note appears at the bottom of the document.

Letter And Fact Sheet From Citizens Against Desecration, Mary H. Clark, Shirley Smith, Bruce Kaufman

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This three-page typed letter from Citizens Against Desecration, circa March 1988, is addressed to supporters and gives facts about the events at Union County, Kentucky, regarding the desecration of American Indian burial sites. The letter provides facts surrounding the incident and notes the need to both educate the public about the issue and change legislation to increase the penalties for those convicted of this crime. It also expresses the need for funding to help cover the cost of expenses related to the reburial efforts.

Form Letter From John Thomas Regarding Desecration Of A Shawnee Burial Site At Uniontown, Kentucky, John Thomas

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This typed letter from John Thomas, circa March 1988, is an appeal for help raising funds to support reburial efforts in Uniontown, Kentucky. Thomas recounts his previous experience helping with reburials and legislative efforts to prevent further grave desecration from happening. John explains that a delegation of Shawnee medicine men and elders needs to be organized for an appropriate re-burial.

Letter From Alisha To Congress, Alisha

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Amanda To Congress, Amanda

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Anissa To Congress, Anissa

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Carrina To Congress, Carrina

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Christopher To Congress, Christopher

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Crystal To Congress, Crystal

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Erin And Stephen To Congress, Erin, Stephen

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from two students to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Margaret To Congress, Margaret

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Mary To Congress, Mary

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Michael To Congress, Michael

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Mike To Congress, Mike

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Milly To Congress, Milly

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Mixi To Congress, Mixi

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.

Letter From Nathen To Congress, Nathen

Graves Protection and Repatriation

This handwritten letter, circa 1988, from a student to members of Congress, is regarding the Union County, Kentucky, grave desecration. This is one of dozens of similar letters sent to Congress as part of a campaign to influence tougher legislation on the looting of burial sites.