The invisible activist is a book to be read and treasured by anyone who believes in freedom and equal rights for all. In the long and difficult africanamerican civil rights struggle, bayard rustin was a key organizer and significant leader whom the majority of people have never heard of. He was gay, and the popular culture is just warming up to the idea of gay lead characters and, unfortunately, they are usually somewhat stereotypical, he said. The wpa film library has thousands of hours of archival and contemporary footage, and weve recently uncovered some hidden treasures from our archive. In 2019, the bayard rustin center for social justice brcsj opened its doors with the rustin estate, and rustins partner walter naegle joining as community liaison. Walter naegle, partner of bayard rustin, shares memories of. Click here for the brother outsider discussion guide. The life of bayard rustin, which premiered at the sundance film festival. Rustin introduced king to the precepts of nonviolence during the montgomery bus boycott, which planted the seed and lead to the civil rights movement. Bayard rustin, best known for organizing the 1963 march on washington, was not only one of the most intelligent political strategists and tacticians in 20th century american history, but he was also the most interesting.
Long before samesex marriage, adopted son could mean life. The personal life of bayard rustin, gay civil rights. The partner of the gay civil rights activist and organizer of the march on washington shares his side of the story. Jan 23, 2015 walter naegle, bayard rustins partner during the last 10 years of his life, believes that hollywoods slow acceptance is one explanation for the lack of rustincentered films. These transcripts contain material that did not appear in the final program. Civil rights leader bayard rustins role in organizing the. Ap youth in motion is funded in part through the generous support of the bob ross foundation. Bayard was born in 1912 in west chester, pennsylvania. Philip randolph, george houser, william sutherland, and others to. He conceived the coalition of liberal, labor and religious leaders who supported passage of the civil rights and antipoverty legislation of the 1960s and, as the first executive director of the aflcios a. Bennett singer, the producer and director of the 2003 documentary brother outsider. Life of bayard rustin pioneering, gay civil rights activist. Bayard rustin was a civil rights activist, and the main organizer of the 1963 march on washington. Bayard rustin to many, the civil rights movement brings to mind protests, marches, boycotts, and freedom rides.
Civilrights leader rustin gets his due 50 years later wsj. Remembering civil rights activist bayard rustin press play. Bayard rustin was a brilliant strategist, pacifist, and forwardthinking civil rights activist during the middle of the 20th century. He was openly gay, and his life and legacy were often subject to derision. Rustin encloses a memorandum he wrote entitled a message to american christians and proposes that king and robert graetz sign something similar for submission to christian century. Bayard rustin was a trailblazing, openly gay civil rights activist. Rustin organized the 1963 march on washington and it was rustins understanding and teaching of nonviolence and unwavering commitment to nondiscrimination that became the framework through which dr. This multimovement piece, set for chorus and spoken word, honors the life and work of openly gay civil rights activist bayard rustin, a mentor to dr. The personal life of bayard rustin, gay civil rights activist. The essays, manifestos, interviews, and documents assembled here. Philip randolph institute, he worked closely with the labor movement to. Rustin initiated the freedom ride movement by leading 1947s journey of reconciliation, and played an instrumental role in the organization of 1963s great march on washington for jobs and freedom.
Bayard rustin sings twelve spirituals on the life of christ with readings from the bible by james farmer is a 10inch lp released in 1952 by civil rights and peace activist bayard rustin on fellowship records, a label owned by the fellowship of reconciliation for, for which rustin was working as a youth organizer. Aug 15, 20 bayard rustin speaks in front of city hall in new york on may 18, 1964, at a rally for school integration. Long before samesex marriage, adopted son could mean life partner civil rights leader bayard rustin and his life partner, walter naegle, wanted to legally protect their relationship. Read this exclusive 1986 interview between bayard rustin and joseph beam about gay rights, which is now available in the republished book time on two crosses. Bayard rustin was an adviser to martin luther king jr. And though he was gay, his legacy remains little known among many in the lgbtq community.
Philip randolph, organizer of the 1963 march on washington, intelligent, gregarious and charismatic, rustin was. Why bayard rustin is the unknown hero of the civil rights. Bayard rustin 19121987 was a leading strategist of the civil rights movement. West coast premiere rustin was not only the architect of kings march on washington in 1963, but also. Becky birtha, author of grandmamas pride and lucky beans bayard rustin did not spend his life trying to fit in. Bayard rustin knew that through alliances and coalitions protests may flourish into. These transcripts contain material that did not appear in. Bayard rustin and malcolm x debated back in 1962, and its hard to imagine what it felt like to be therefortunately robert gore reported on it for the village voice. Windy city times news archive movies brother outsider filmmaker bennett singer talks bayard rustin out filmmaker bennett singer is the codirector and coproducer, with nancy d. Jan 03, 2011 malcolm x interview at berkeley 1963 duration.
An interview between bayard rustin and joseph beam. Bayard rustin 19121987 was a civil rights activist. Jul 10, 2003 bayard rustin to me is a civil rights leader whose writing are still relevant especially at the intersection of africanamerican and gay liberation civil rights movements. Discussion centers on the brown decision, the reasons for increased civil rights activism after world war ii, and his work to organize the march on washington for jobs and freedom. Five years in the making and the winner of more than 20 awards, brother outsider illuminates the life and work of bayard rustin, a.
With nancy kates, he produced and directed brother outsider. When civil rights leader and organizer bayard rustin died in 1987, his new york times obituary referred to his partner walter naegle as his adopted son. Bayard rustin speaks in front of city hall in new york on may 18, 1964, at a rally for school integration. Download the discussioncurriculum guide produced in partnership with framelines youth in motion program. And, his insights about other civil rights efforts such as the womens civil rights movement were quite enlightening. He attended three colleges but did not obtain a degree. A member of the religious society of friends, his grandmother was especially instrumental in conveying the core humanitarian values that would animate his entire career. Why bayard rustin is the unknown hero of the civil rights movement. In newly found audio, a forgotten civil rights leader says.
The actual anniversary is august 28th, but alot of activity will go down today since the 28th falls on a weekday. Philip randolph institute, he worked closely with the labor movement to ensure african american workers rightful place in. Bayard rustin sings a program of spirituals wikipedia. Interview with bayard rustin, video university libraries.
Today in washington dc tens of thousands of folks will converge upon the nations capitol in front of the lincoln memorial to commemorate the 50th anniversary of historic march on washington for jobs and freedom. Meet bayard rustin, the gay, civil rights icon who helped martin luther king, jr. Although his contributions to the movement remain largely unrecognized by the general public to this day, he was of invaluable assistance to dr. Bayard rustin and joseph beam read this exclusive 1986 interview between bayard rustin and joseph beam about gay rights, which is now available in the republished book time on two crosses. Jan 16, 2017 bayard rustin was a trailblazing, openly gay civil rights activist. In the memorandum rustin emphasized the moral and spiritual dimensions of the desegregation movement, while bemoaning the medias focus on legal and political issues. We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers. He offers his interpretation of the historical meanings of the march on washington and the civil rights act of 1965. Rustin assisted in the founding of the congress of racial equality in 1942. Aug 28, 20 bennett singer, the producer and director of the 2003 documentary brother outsider. Bayard rustin article about bayard rustin by the free. Philip randolph, he organized the march on washington for jobs and freedom of 1963. Filmed interview with bayard rustin conducted in 1979 for america, they loved you madly, a precursor to eyes on the prize. Brother outsider the life of bayard rustin youtube.
Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. In part two of our interview about the trailblazing civil rights activist bayard rustin as he is set to posthumously receive the presidential medal of. He was a strong believer in the nonviolent tactics of gandhi, and he counseled martin luther king, jr. In 1947 as a member of the fellowship of reconciliation, rustin planned the journey of reconciliation, which would be used as a model for the freedom rides of the 1960s. Rustin, bayard, 191087, africanamerican civilrights leader, b. The life of bayard rustin, explained recently in an interview that allies of the march on washington were. The institute for race, justice, and community engagement in conjunction with student lifetpsswill be screening the film. The album consists of rustin singing a cappella spirituals in the tenor. Bayard rustin biography at black history now black. Bayard rustin s death in 1987, the new york post editorialized, marked the passing of the last great apostle of the creed of nonviolence. Drawing on interviews with rustins colleagues, friends, and lovers, demilio. Long before samesex marriage, adopted son could mean. Before martin luther king, before malcolm x, bayard rustin was working to bring the cause to the forefront of americas consciousness. Washington university libraries, film and media archive, henry hampton collection.
The west coast premiere of the man behind the dream will take place saturday at 7. What bayard rustins role in the march on washington. Bayard rustin 1910 1987 civil rights activist, writer, and pacifist, bayard rustin was a key figure in the struggle for racial and social justice from the 1940s on. Walter naegle, partner of bayard rustin, shares memories. Life of bayard rustin pioneering, gay civil rights. A complex legacy the gay civilrights activist bayard rustin was born a hundred years ago, on march 17, 1912. V bayard rustin was an early and incalculably important force behind the u. Bennett singer is an awardwinning filmmaker who has been making socialissue documentaries for more than 20 years. A moving and informative biography about an early activist and key player in the civil rights movement. S, an era when the aids crisis was just beginning to shake the world at its core bayard rustin was in the trenches fighting first for the civil rights of his fellow african american brothe.
The partner of the gay civil rights activist and organizer of the march on washington shares his side of the. In 1953, he was arrested in pasadena for having sex in a parked car. Without rustin, the 20thcentury civil rights movement in the united states would have unfolded very differently. The wpa film library has thousands of hours of archival and contemporary footage, and weve recently uncovered some hidden treasures. Bayard rustin, shown in new york in 1963, tutored the rev. For bayard rustins partner, an effort to preserve legacy. Nov 01, 2005 born to a young unmarried woman in west chester, pa. Jun 28, 2015 long before samesex marriage, adopted son could mean life partner civil rights leader bayard rustin and his life partner, walter naegle, wanted to legally protect their relationship. In 2019, the bayard rustin center for social justice brcsj opened its doors with the rustin estate, and rustin s partner walter naegle joining as community liaison.
Interview with bayard rustin, conducted by blackside, inc. During an era when segregation and severe homophobia began rearing its ugly head in the u. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the estate of bayard rustin for permission to include selections from bayard rustins writings and songs on this dvd. Bayard rustin is one of the most important figures in the history of the american civil rights movement. For example, he notes that the murder of medger evers in june of that year was weighing heavily on many peoples minds and served as a catalyst. We are excited to bring this important story out of the shadows and share it with our audience. Civil rights leader bayard rustin s role in organizing the march on washington duration. A teacher to king, an international apostle of peace, and the organizer of the famous 1963 march on washington, he brought gandhis philosophy of.
Born in 1912 to an unwed teenager, rustin was raised by his quaker grandparents to be a pacifist. Discussion centers on the brown decision, the reasons for increased civil. Civil rights era 19501963 the civil rights act of 1964. Why we need him today for the past several years, around the independence day holiday in the united states, i select a book that examines an event, a space, or a person of significance to the history of my country. Bayard rustin to me is a civil rights leader whose writing are still relevant especially at the intersection of africanamerican and gay liberation civil rights movements. Feb 19, 2020 bayard rustin, a member of the lgbtq community, was posthumously pardoned by governor newsom two weeks ago.
The life and times of bayard rustin new edition by john d emilio. Walter naegle, bayard rustins partner during the last 10 years of his life, believes that hollywoods slow acceptance is one explanation for the lack of rustincentered films. The late bayard rustin, a top organizer of the 1963 march on washington, is being celebrated this year. They often think of people like martin luther king or rosa parks. The life and times of bayard rustin is the most recent attempt to understand rustins remarkable career as a social activist. Bayard rustin he conceived the coalition of liberal, labor and religious leaders who supported passage of the civil rights and antipoverty legislation of the 1960s and, as the first executive director of the aflcios a. During his 60year career as an activist and organizer, bayard rustin formulated many of the strategies that propelled the civil rights movement.
Summit central central express the summit at snoqualmie 5 watching. With the 50th anniversary of the1963 march on washington demonstration in the medias spotlight, and especially of its heavy emphasis on martin luther kings i have a dream speech, this light has also shined on the real strategic planners and originators of the actual 1963 march. Rustin played a central role in organizing the 1963 march on washington for jobs and freedom, which the nation is set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of in the coming weeks. The black activist, pacifist and gay man who died in 1987 is being awarded the medal of freedom. Jan 23, 2018 long beach the life of pioneering, gay civil rights activist bayard rustin, who mentored martin luther king jr. The brcsj is a community activist center, and safespace for lgbtq kids, intersectional families, and marginalized people. Bayard rustins death in 1987, the new york post editorialized, marked the passing of the last great apostle of the creed of nonviolence.
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