What a Coal Miner Taught a Historian

In this powerful and enlightening conversation, Dr. Joe William Trotter Jr. traces his remarkable journey from a coal-mining family in West Virginia to becoming one of the nations leading scholars of African American history, Black labor, and urban working-class life. He reflects on the formative influence of his father, the devastating loss he experienced early in life, and how education became both a lifeline and a calling. Dr. Trotter shares how his lived experience shaped a lifelong mission: to document, honor, and elevate the often-overlooked contributions of the Black working class. He challenges persistent misconceptions that frame Black urban communities solely as victims, instead emphasizing their central role as builders of cities, economies, and culture. Against the backdrop of todays political and cultural debates, he underscores the urgency of preserving African American history and producing scholarship that is both rigorous and accessible. We have to keep fighting for our history, Dr. Trotter reminds us. Rather than defining success by titles or accolades, Dr. Trotter measures it by impacton his students, on public understanding, and on future generations who will carry this work forward. Key Takeaways Education was viewed as a pathway out of poverty, instilled early by his fathers deep belief in higher learning. Dr. Trotters lifes work centers on documenting the historical contributions of the Black working class. As a high school teacher, he created a Black history course to address major gaps in the curriculum. Narratives that depict Black communities only as victims obscure their role as city builders and agents of change. Current political movements pose serious threats to the preservation of African American history. True success is measured by long-term impact on students and communities, not just academic achievement. Scholarship must be accessible, relevant, and meaningful for future generations. Preserving Black history requires sustained commitment, vigilance, and courage. About Dr. Joe William Trotter Jr. Dr. Joe William Trotter Jr. is the Giant Eagle University Professor of History and Social Justice and former Chair of the History Department at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He is the founder and director of Carnegie Mellons Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies and the Economy (CAUSE), president-elect of the Urban History Association, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His most recent book, Building the Black City: The Transformation of American Life (University of California Press, 2024), expands our understanding of Black urban history and labor. He is also the author of Workers on Arrival: Black Labor in the Making of America (2019). Dr. Trotter earned his BA from Carthage College and his MA and PhD from the University of Minnesota. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in African American history, U.S. urban history, labor history, and working-class studies. His scholarship and lectures have reached audiences across the United States and internationally, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, and the Middle East. In addition to his teaching and writing, Dr. Trotter has served in leadership roles with numerous professional organizations, including the Organization of American Historians, American Historical Association, Southern Historical Association, and the Labor and Working-Class History Association, where he is a past president. Join the Conversation Emunah listeners, wed love to hear from you. Share your comments, reactions, and questions at [email protected]. To learn more about our work, visit the Women of the Word website at wordconsultingllc.com.