Entering into an actual discussion held by C.L.R James through the preservation of a February 12, 1970 interview was an astounding experience. To read history from the perspective of a man who had a part in crafting it was a wholly new encounter with learning. There was absolutely no doubt about what C.L.R. James thought about a topic or what was his inspiration in acting because, unlike secondary sources, this was pure and untouched by the bias of history. Connections, like his relationship with James Padmore in Trinidad before James’ writing career commenced, were unveiled that may have been lost to researchers looking back in time. However, with James as the narrator of his own life, there is no doubt that precious moments have been preserved for us today.…show more content… The personal manner in which he revealed this information makes it more credible than reading it from a third party. James spoke about being educated in Trinidad at Royal College and how he continued to hone his childhood skill of being well read. This followed him outside of Trinidad, despite the fact that he did not pursue any traditional higher education in America. This active reading and hunger for knowledge led James to the work of Leon Trotsky. James merged his knowledge base, including his personal experiences as a Black man, into a cohesive understanding of the role he wanted to play in affecting the political, social, and economic climates around him. This led to him becoming a prominent Socialist and advocate for Black life throughout his involvement in the Trotskyist
