Trotsky’s history writing converted James to Trotskyism in 1934.

Evidence

I read the History of the Russian Revolution [Trotsky] because I was very much interested in history and the book seemed to offer some analysis of modern society. At the end of reading the book, Spring 1934, I became a Trotskyist—in my mind, and later joined. It was clear in my mind that I was not going to be a Stalinist. — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 1238

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 1238
• XREF: connects to: Studying colonial archives crystallized James’s conviction in self-government — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 1209; The Black Jacobins fused Trotskyism with African revolutionary history.