The scholarship analyzing the political career of Robert F. Williams has either misinterpreted him, minimized his effect, or only provided limited information about his legacy as a Black revolutionary nationalist leader. In Tyson's biography, for instance, the treatment on Williams in Lake County, Michigan, raises much skepticism when he writes that Williams spent the last 15 years of his life in a quiet place “where he and his family could recover a life of their own.” Different from Tyson's assessment, this article argues that while living in Western Michigan, Williams continued to fight for rights that the U.S. Constitution guaranteed him, his people, and his community by staging a one-man protest against the editor of the Lake County Star for refusing to publish a letter he requested to be printed as a paid advertisement and by fighting to eliminate prostitution, police brutality, and political corruption in the area. Williams was one of several people who were responsible for organizing the People's Association for Human Rights, a grassroots organization in Lake County dedicated to maintaining the human rights of residents.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barksdale, M. C. (1984). Robert F. Williams and the indigenous civil rights movement in Monroe, North Carolina. Journal of Negro History, 69, 73-89.
2.
Blevins. (1983, September 27). Don't believe all the trash you read. Lake County Star, p. 4.
3.
Bullett, A. K. (2000, January 6). Robert Williams is a role model. Lake County Star, p. 5.
4.
Civil rights complaint settled. (1989, April 20). Lake County Star, p. 1.
5.
Cohen, R. C. (1972). Black crusader: A biography of Robert Franklin Williams. Secaucus, NJ: Lyle Stuart.
6.
Cruse, H. (1967). The crisis of the Negro intellectual: A historical analysis of the failure of Black leadership. New York: Quill.
7.
Day, A. M. (1980, May 1). Letter to the editor: Water tower marks breed ill feelings. Lake County Star, p. 4.
8.
Dechow, G. F. (1987, October 19). The view from the back desk. Lake County Star, p. 4.
9.
De Zutter, H., & De Zutter, P. L. (1993, June 4). Idlewild: Black Eden. Reader, p. 1.
10.
Foreman, J. (1972). Making of Black revolutionaries. New York: Macmillan.
11.
Galloway, G. (1994). The bulldog: A true story. Morley, MI: Deerfield.
12.
Hamrick, R. L. (1978, July 13). Letter to the editor: Problems in department prompted resignation. Lake County Star, p. 4.
13.
James, D. (1969). Che Guevara: A biography. New York: First Cooper Square Press.
14.
Johnson, E. A. (1978, June 8). Letter to the editor: Deur needs help. Lake County Star, p. 4.
15.
Karasienski, D. L. (1978a, January 5). Miles angered by questioning: Goodman faces contempt of court charges. Lake County Star, p. 5.
16.
Karasienski, D. L. (1978b, January 5). Nelson to appear in Circuit Court: New information surfaces in prelim. Lake County Star, p. 1.
17.
Kelley, G. P. (1978, July 5). Justice over racism: Lake County woman released. Lansing Star, p. 1.
18.
McCellan, K. (1979, March 22). Letter to the editor: Deputy's wife questions Aikens' letter. Lake County Star, p. 5.
19.
McCellan, M. (1982, September 16). Letter to the editor: Former deputy calls sheriff's resignation. Lake County Star, p. 6.
20.
Nelson, T. (1968). People with strength: The story of Monroe, N.C. New York: Voluntary Labor.
21.
O'Connor, M. (1982a, May 27). FBI investigation complete inmate program dumped. Lake County Star, p. 2.
22.
O'Connor, M. (1982b, January 14). Inmate recants rape charge. Lake County Star, p. 1.
23.
O'Connor, M. (1983a, February 23). Blacks alleged police infringed on rights. Big Rapids Pioneer, p. 1.
24.
O'Connor, M. (1983b, March 1). Blacks, police make some progress. Lake County Star, p. 1.
25.
O'Connor, M. (1983c, September 20). Issues far from being resolved. Lake County Star, p. 1.
26.
The People of the State of Michigan v. Ruby Nelson, a.k.a. Ruby Chatman Fuller, Lake County Circuit Court (May 22, 1979).
27.
People's Association for Human Rights. (1983, October 4). Letter to the editor: Association calls for sheriff's resignation. Lake County Star, p. 3.
28.
Ping, S. (1983) Letter to the editor: Disappointed in sheriff. Lake County Star, September 20, p. 6.
29.
Piper, D. V. (1978, July 27). Letter to the editor: Piper's letter tells why. Lake County Star, p. 5.
30.
Robert Franklin Williams Tribute Committee. (1996). A legacy of resistance: Tributes to Robert and Mabel Williams. Detroit, MI: Grace Boggs.
31.
Reitan, R. (1999). The rise and decline of an alliance: Cuba and African American leaders in the 1960s. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press.
32.
Serrin, W. (1969, November 2). A meet revolutionary: The 2 worlds of Robert Williams. Detroit Free Press, pp. 1A, 6A.
33.
Sharp, E. (1980, May 5). Baldwin irritated by racial insults on town water tank. Detroit Free Press, p. 3B.
34.
Sims, S. U. (2000a, January 6). Letter to the editor: Must get to base of problem now. Lake County Star, p. 5.
35.
Sims, S. U. (2000b, January 6). Letters: Get the facts straight. Lake County Star, p. 6.
36.
Smith, D. (1978a, May 18). Not guilty verdict sought. Lake County Star, p. 1.
37.
Smith, D. (1978b, July 20). Recall details. Lake County Star, p. 1.
38.
Smith, D. (1978c, June 15). Recall reasons. Lake County Star, p. 1.
39.
Smith, D. (1978d, March 16). Suit claims rights violated while housed in county jail. Lake County Star, p. 1.
40.
Smith, D. (1979a, March 29). Action unbelievable. Lake County Star, p. 4
41.
Smith, D. (1979b, October 4). Blevins wins sheriff's seat. Lake County Star, p. 1.
42.
Smith, D. (1979c, May 17). Deur acquitted of assault charge. Lake County Star, p. 3.
43.
Smith, D. (1979d, August 9). Deur ousted. Lake County Star,, p. 1.
44.
Smith, D. (1979e, August 9). Deur recall vote Aug. 7. Lake County Star, p. 1.
45.
Smith, D. (1980a, August 7). Deputy drew suspension following beer tent incident. Lake County Star, p. 3.
46.
Smith, D. (1980b, August 7). Letter from the editor. Lake County Star, p. 4.
47.
Smith, D. (1980c, May 8). Out of proportion. Lake County Star, p. 4.
48.
Smith, D. (1980d, September 11). Pray for peace. Lake County Star, p. 4.
49.
Stephens, R. J. (2001). Idlewild: The Black Eden of Michigan. Chicago: Arcadia.
50.
Stewart, C., Smith, C. A., & Denton, R. E., Jr. (1994). Persuasion and social movements (3rd ed.). Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland.
51.
Such, R. (1975, December). Robert Williams faces kidnapping charge: Advocate of self defense extradited. Southern Patriot, p. 1.
52.
Trucks, M. L. (1980, May 22). Letter to the editor: Reader says editorial out of proportion. Lake County Star, p. 4.
53.
Tyson, T. B. (1999). Radio Free Dixie: Robert F. Williams and the roots of Black Power. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.
54.
Walker, L., & Wilson, B. C. (2002). Black Eden: The Idlewild community. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press.
55.
Watkins, R. L. (2000, January 6). Letters: Misinformation and omission. Lake County Star, p. 5.
56.
Wilkins, R., with Mathews, T. (1982). Standing fast: The autobiography of Roy Wilkins. New York: Penguin.
57.
Williams, M. R. (1997, March). The story of Robert F. Williams. Lake County Enterprising Newsletter, p. 4.
58.
Williams, R. F. (1998). Negroes with guns (2nd ed.). Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press.
59.
Williams, R. F. (1970, February 15). Williams' 8-year odyssey. Detroit News, pp. 1E, 4E.
60.
Williams, R. F. (1978, June 8). Letter to the editor: Williams questions Rotary's choice for award. Lake County Star, p. 4.
61.
Williams, R. F. (1989, April 20). Letter to the editor: Constitution more than words on scrap of paper. Lake County Star, p. 5.
62.
Wilson, B. (1991). The rural Black heritage between Chicago and Detroit, 1850-1929: A photograph album and random thoughts. Kalamazoo, MI: New Issues Press.
63.
VandelMeer, B. (1999a, December 2). Lake County receives Renaissance zone designation. Lake County Star, pp. 1, 13.
64.
VandelMeer, B. (1999b, December 23). Bucky's list of top twenty outrages of the year. Lake County Star, p. 4.
65.
VandelMeer, B. (2000a, May 4). Lake County prepares to celebrate Robert F. Williams Day. Lake County Star, p. 1.
66.
VandelMeer, B. (2000b, May 11). Community turns out for dedication of Robert F. Williams Center. Lake County Star, p. 3.
67.
Yoriko, N. (1989). African-Americans: Their political participation in the third century. Tokyo, Japan: Chuo University Press.
