It’s been a year since Jimmy Butts, assistant professor of history, began teaching at Trinity, and fellow faculty members have said the Malcolm X specialist has become an influential figure within the history department. Through his involvement in the Million Man March and spending time in prison, Butts’ “formative experiences” granted him insight into Malcolm X’s story and the historic African-American experience.

According to Butts, his mother’s devotion to educating her kids alongside his father’s influential examples shaped his understanding of Black history. The scholar further credited his personal growth to Malcolm X, a figure whom he said was known for his advocacy of Black pride and empowerment. Butts said his connection to Malcolm X stemmed from a shared experience in incarceration. Through the philosophical teachings that Malcolm X forwarded, Butts said he was inspired to tap into his own will, sharpen his mind and transform himself into something positive during his time in prison.

“The initial hook, if you will, was the idea of self-determination. If you know anything about the life of Malcolm X, he didn’t come from a wealthy background, he didn’t come from a middle-class family, he came from nothing,” Butts said. “But he was able to use his own self-discipline, his own will, to transform his life.”

Butts shared that the significance of his work being spread is that it pushes the conversation about Malcolm X forward. According to him, it allows people to recognize the importance of not completely throwing away questions and discussions that Black people have had in the past.

Malcolm X’s ideas don’t allow people to sit comfortably, Butts said when discussing the importance of spreading his philosophy. According to Butts, part of the discomfort stems from his critique of issues such as white supremacy and anti-blackness in the world.

“Contending with the thought of Malcolm X forces us to ask difficult questions about the world that we live in,” Butts said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that you agree with his analysis, but at the very least contending with his thought requires us to come to terms with the condition of the world that we are in right now.”

Gina Tam, associate professor of history and co-chair of women and gender studies, has worked with Butts for a semester. She stated that Butts had influenced her conception of history. She said she found his approach to Malcolm X thoughtful to history in a way that stressed historical precedent and foundation.

“[He] really made me think seriously and critically in a new way about why it is important to really center the people in the past that we are writing about and savor why they’re using the work that they do and treat them in a thoughtful, humanistic way,” Tam said.

Erin Kramer, associate professor of history, said that Butts has brought a new area of study, classes and speakers to the history department. She said she was excited about Butts being a faculty member.

“His enthusiasm for teaching and student discussion of primary sources is really inspiring,” Kramer said.

In regard to teaching, Nicole Marafioti, professor and department chair of history, wrote in an email that she was impressed with the way Butts makes complex historical issues accessible. She wrote that his work was interesting to students and seeks to understand how one individual influenced and was influenced by the world around him.

“This requires extensive research into the subject’s own writings and speeches, but also a careful reconstruction of who he interacted with, where he traveled, how he was perceived and what intellectual trends helped to shape his thinking,” Marafioti wrote. “This is painstaking and important research, and Dr. Butts’ findings have been eye-opening.”

During his time being a part of Trinity, Butts said he was pleased with where he is currently teaching. He shared that students were excited and engaged with the subjects and courses that he teaches.

“Trinity is the institution that valued the work that I had to offer,” Butts said. “Since I’ve been here, my decision to come has been validated. I’ve received nothing but welcome from both faculty and the students.”

Publications such as The Journal of Black Studies, The Journal of African American Studies and Siyabona: The Journal of Africana Studies have published Butts’ work. Through events such as the Malcolm X100 lecture series, Butts said he aims to help the Trinity community engage with provocative questions related to the liberation of Black people and the flourishing of all humans.

The next lecture in the Malcolm X100 lecture series will be on October 20, 2025. Dr. Edward Curtis IV, professor of world languages and cultures at Indiana Univerisity, will discuss the competing ideologies of the Arab Cold War between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.