Keeping Heart

Otis Trotter lives in North Canton, Ohio. He worked with the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities as an instructor until his retirement. He is currently a Certified Independent Provider for the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.Joe William Trotter Jr., is Giant Eagle Professor of History and Social Justice, Carnegie Mellon University, and author of Coal, Class, and Color: Blacks in Southern West Virginia.

"There are many authors, of course, who have written about the people and problems of Appalachia who don't have eugenicists for pen-pals and mentors. Some of them even anchor frank discussions of social problems within moving personal stories. Otis Trotter's Keeping Heart, a memoir about growing up poor, sick, and black in Appalachian Ohio springs to mind." (The Boston Review (adapted from What You Are Getting Wrong about Appalachia)) "The saga of Otis Trotter and his siblings is an inspiration for anyone with an ounce of empathy. Raised by a widowed mother, they were forced to overcome the debilitating legacy of racial, economic, and political oppression to achieve meaningful, prosperous lives. In many ways their history could serve as a metaphor for African American history. The 'Trotter Fourteen' seized control of their destinies through initiative, intelligence, dogged persistence, and by taking care of one another. The Trotter family's courageous struggle to succeed against improbable odds will uplift the spirit of everyone who reads this book." "Trotter's story is the American Dream: in America, one can overcome the obstacles in one's life through hard work and self-reliance. It will appeal to anyone who is interested in Appalachian studies, African American studies, and especially racial and ethnic diversity in the region."