Black Radical frames Trotter as a hero for today’s generation of black activists: exuding pride in black excellence, raging at white supremacy, distrusting of white liberals, uncompromising in his ideals … Black Radical is most valuable for charting Trotter’s extraordinary political journey … Greenidge writes with a sledgehammer, pounding on her arguments about Trotter’s radical independence and populist appeal … Black Radical could have probed deeper, however, on the personality behind the politics … As Greenidge documents, Trotter’s stubborn militancy both alienated potential allies and enhanced his popular standing. But it is not entirely clear why Trotter was so perpetually prickly.
