By Ralph E. Moore Jr.
Let’s talk openly about one of the most successful organizers and advocates in American History. His name was Bayard Rustin.
It was Rustin who was the chief organizer of the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his most renowned speech. The “I have a dream” speech, as most know, was delivered before 250,000 people, which – up to that point in the nation’s history – was the biggest crowd. Years later, a demonstration against the war in Vietnam in 1969 and the Million Man March in 1995 had larger crowds. But it was Bayard Rustin who brought the huge, unprecedented sized crowd to D.C. on Aug. 28,1963 and very peacefully executed the comings and goings of the massive gathering to the surprise of many. It was Rustin who provided King with his largest platform from which to speak, making it possible for King’s voice and words to project around the world via the news media and history books to this day.
Bayard Ruskin’s highly skillful organizing helped do that.
And lately, the unsung hero is getting some long overdue credit and attention for the roles he played in the civil rights, peace and gay rights movements. Yes, Bayard Ruskin was a gay man–so what?
Michele and Barack Obama have a production company called Higher Ground Productions that they founded in 2018. They’ve produced several documentaries, but “Rustin” is their first “narrative feature.” And with it, they tell a marvelous story about an amazing man. The film is currently streaming on Netflix.
Rustin was born March 17th in 1912 in West Chester, Pennsylvania and died on August 24th in 1987. He reportedly took many courses for several years at the City College of New York, but never earned a college degree per se. Rustin was expelled from Wilberforce as a student in 1936 after organizing a strike there. He eventually received an honorary doctorate from Cheney State. He posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Nov. 20, 2013 from Obama.
In the film, one can see that Rustin was a total movement man. He lived it, loved it and moved it forward. He was very close to King, as portrayed in the film, despite King accepting his resignation from the NAACP very early on in their alliance for justice. Adam Clayton Powell is represented in the story as circulating rumors about a romantic relationship between the two civil rights activists. It was an untrue, sneaky assertion by him– meant to undermine their growing success in planning the March on Washington. It didn’t.
It is depicted in the film that Rustin loved working with college-age young people whom he inspired. They generously gave him their time, their energy and their brainstormed ideas. Young people enjoyed working for Rustin, you get to see their enthusiasm depicted in the film.
Also, evident in the film is how unapologetic Rustin was about his gender identity and his outspokenness. He boasts about being raised a Quaker, dates men in public and doesn’t hold his tongue to anyone. In the film, Rustin, who is portrayed by actor Colman Domingo, says “I can’t surrender my differences. The world will not let me. And even if I could, I wouldn’t.”
As the story in the film goes, Rustin and King reconcile and begin putting the March on Washington together. King worked on the program for the midday speechmaking. Rustin handled the logistics, setting a challenging goal of 100,000 attendees. In the end, he would draw two and a half times that many.
Domingo’s work as Bayard Rustin is very bold, very confident and very talented. He is portrayed in the film as beaten, fired, ostracized and discriminated against. And yet, he never appears defeated. Domingo portrays him as a sympathetic figure– ever fighting the good fight.
Rounding out the cast that includes Jeffrey Wright as Adam Clayton Powell and Audra McDonald as Ella Baker, comedian Chris Rock appears in a dramatic role. Rock is featured as the NAACP’s Roy Wilkins, with Glynn Turman starring as A. Phillip Randolph, the giant of the Black labor movement. British actor Aml Ameen portrays Martin Luther King Jr. in the production, which called on veteran actress, writer and producer CCH Pounder to write and advise for the film. It has a superb cast, but Domingo as Rustin steals the show. Viewers will love his performance. The film is produced and directed by George C. Wolfe, director of both The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
If you are more into books than films, I suggest “Bayard Rustin: A Legacy of Protest and Politics,” a book edited by Michael G. Long. It contains a series of essays for those who want to learn more about Rustin or who simply want to enjoy his writing. There are 19 different passages on various aspects of his life, his interests and his meaning to the movement and to the selected essayists. Topics include Rustin’s legacy of civil resistance in the U.S., moving from the streets to the corridors of power, his grandmother, Julia’s influence, his working relationship with A. Philip Randolph and his work with King and Ella Baker. The book also touches on his little known influence on Black power advocate Stokely Carmichael.
There is something for all the curious in the book of essays on Rustin. I also highly recommend getting the book at the bookstore or the library.
It is terrific to see Bayard Rustin’s life and legacy now beginning to get their due attention. He is an exceptional figure in American history and a huge contributor to the civil rights movement. His talent as an organizer, his commitment to causes he believed in and his outspokenness about his professional and personal life are quite laudable, opening doors for many others.
Rustin taught us a great deal by living the life he led and society owes him a great debt of gratitude.
The post The Moore Report – Bayard Rustin: The unsung organizer of the March on Washington appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .
