“OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE” : ROBERT F WILLIAMS

   Today, in Monroe, Louisiana with all that has been going on. It is fitting to begin this article with a quote from a little known Black Leader who played a big part in the Civil Rights Movement. Even today, his quote,”It’s Time For Black Men to Standup and Be Men” speaks volumes! The person that I am speaking of was Robert F Williams. He was one of the first Black  Civil Rights Leader to bring international attention to the Black man’s struggle for civil rights in America. In addition to being a Negro Civil Rights Leader, Robert F Williams was the author of the “Negro Classic” non-fictional book,”Negroes With Guns.” A book that is said to have inspired Huey P Newton, Bobby Seale, and Elbert Howard to form the legendary “Black Panther Party.” Additionally, the book is reportedly to have influenced a group of courageous Negro men in Jonesboro, Louisiana , who were led by Earnest “Chilly Willy” Thomas and Frederick Douglas Kirkpatrick in forming the “The Deacons for Defense and Justice.” Robert  F Williams was born in Monroe on February 26, 1925. Back then,The City of Monroe had a racist police officer( who later became  the Chief of police in Monroe) by the name of Jesse Helms Sr{ who was the father of the racist Senator, Jesse Helms Jr }. When he was only 11 years  old, Robert witnessed the dragging and beating of a Black lady by Officer Jesse Helms. However , before I continue with my story, I must alert you that the city he was born in was “Monroe, North Carolina,”( and not  Monroe, Louisiana ). Now,back to the story. When Robert’s grandfather died, his grandmother gave him his grandfather’s gun. An act that would prove to have a great influence on and in his life as an adult. Robert was drafted in 1944 to serve in WWll. He ended up as a private in the segregated Marines[ where he remained for almost 2 years ].Soon after his return to Monroe, North Carolina, Robert joined the local chapter of the NAACP. Surprisingly, he was elected President of the Monroe chapter. Due to the high presence of the Ku Klux Klan and their frequent harassment of Black females, Robert applied to the National Rifle Association for a charter for a local rifle club. He named the Monroe chapter of the NRA,”The Black Armed Guard.” In the summer of 1957, The Black Armed Guard were dispatched to the home of the Vice-President of the NAACP( Dr. Albert E. Perry) to protect him from an attack by the local Klan{KKK}. The members of the KKK drove up to the house and fired first, and the members of The Black Armed Guard returned their gunfire, and ran them off! The area of town in Monroe where Robert lived was called,”Newtown”{ Newtown was also where the Freedom Riders were housed while in Monroe, North Carolina }. The main thing that stands out about Robert F Williams is his courage and commitment to protecting Blacks from those who were trying to do them harm. He died on October 15,1996 in Michigan. The Mother of the Civil Rights struggle, Rosa Parks gave the eulogy at his funeral in 1996, praising him  for his commitment and courage in the fight for civil rights in America.