Trotter transformed Du Bois from cautious critic into militant activist.

Evidence

William Monroe Trotter, Du Bois’s Harvard classmate, preceded him in this realization, and within the nexus of the Niagara Movement, begun in 1905, certainly disciplined Du Bois in this new militancy. Trotter, more than any other single individual, was responsible for transforming Du Bois from a cautious critic to a militant activist. It was Du Bois, however, who by temperament, training, and experience would be capable of bringing this revolt to fruition; as his work certifies, it was to build in his intellect slowly, ineluctably. — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 909

Categorization

• XREF: Ties into the Niagara Movement context established in earlier chapters on Black political history. — connects to: Trotter’s imprisonment over the Boston confrontation pushed Du Bois toward direct political action
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 909

Broader Connections

• Trotter’s imprisonment over the Boston confrontation pushed Du Bois toward direct political action #expands (0.85)