The American civil rights had many key personalities, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The leaders spearheaded the fight against systemic racism and advocated for equality in the United States' social and economic fabric. However, many other figures played a significant role in the civil rights struggle despite their omission from history. Bayard Rustin is among the civil rights advocates who, despite his efforts, has received little attention in history. John D'Emilio's "Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin" illuminates the difficult paths undergone by Bayard Rustin in his fight for an equal America. Despite his brilliant strategies, no one followed in his footsteps. His peers did everything within their capacity to minimize his influence. Through D’Emilio’s work on Rustin, the readers appreciate two significant points. First, Rustin's personal life conflicted with his public participation. Notably, his sexuality embodied him as a controversial figure, which eventually wrongfully downplayed his civil rights efforts. Secondly, Rustin had a significant influence in promoting nonviolence as the civil rights movement strategy of choice.
The most important information I have learned about the struggles of Bayard Rustin is that personal transgressions can adversely affect a person's quest to achieve justice. Despite his efforts to make America better, Rustin was always judged based on his shortcomings at an individual level. For instance, he had been accused of a sexual offense and arrested in 1953 for allegedly having sexual intercourse with two men. 1 As he continued his quest for social justice, his previous actions burdened him to almost the point of gagging. He found it difficult to fight for or represent the rights of the gay community. Besides that, Rustin had also developed enmity with some of America's most influential figures, such as Clayton Powell. Powell wanted to gain influence at the expense of Rustin. On one occasion, he threatened to release evidence implicating Rustin for having a sexual affair with King. Part of Powel's demand was to have King stay as far as possible from Rustin. 2 However, it was Rustin who had turned King from a regional to an international leader. The friendship of King and Rustin would never recover after their separation. Therefore, this illustrates the extent to which Rustin was a victim of circumstances.
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Rustin's homosexuality also made him a target for constant political attacks. His opponents knew his brilliance and determination to achieve equal rights for all Americans. Homosexuality remained one of the most controversial aspects of America during the mid-20 th century. For this reason, Rustin decided to stay away from the public eye. His biography shows that he had been in and out of prison on various occasions beginning during the World War. The most devastating and career-defining charge touched on his morality. Many viewed Rustin as a controversial figure. On the one hand, he fought for morality by advocating for social justice. On the other hand, his enemies accused him of immorality. The controversy surrounding his character was responsible for his fading popularity. Despite playing the most significant role, he received the least attention. Throughout the latter stages of his civil rights involvement, Rustin opted for a low profile. He wanted to protect the little reputation that remained to his name. The church played a critical role in the civil rights movement. Regardless of the church's inclination towards social justice, Rustin did not receive its approval. His sexuality set him apart from the support of an important institution when he needed it most.
Before the civil rights movement, Rustin had a serious criminal record spanned from his days in the Second World War. Rustin was under the watch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Hoover. 3 Security agencies and the American administration, in general, wanted to use his past criminal record as a way of discrediting the civil rights movement. Also, as a pacifist, Rustin was never inclined to support Black Power or separatist movements. The failure to endorse a radical approach against injustice in American society also placed him at crossroads with some quarters. In this regard, his principles and values worked against him. Most of the people showed determination to subdue his influence, which they succeeded to a large extent. Despite the charisma, courage, and brilliance, Rustin played second fiddle in the quest for justice. Thanks to his sexuality, many viewed him as an outsider. To date, he is yet to receive the creditworthiness of his actions.
Engagement with the text has enabled me to appreciate that the most effective way of advocating for civil rights was through the nonviolent means advanced by Bayard Rustin. Rustin favored a methodological approach where brains mattered more than the muscles. His intelligence and calculative demeanor saw him work behind the systems on most occasions. For this reason, his counterparts labeled him "master strategist of social change. 4 " Before the beginning of the civil rights movement, the world was tuned to believe that change would only come through aggression. The civil rights movement came only a few years after the Second World War. Before that, the First World War had taken place, leading to death and the destruction of many properties. Rustin believed that the time of war had ended, and using such a strategy would only cause doom to the African Americans and their interests. Mahatma Gandhi guided Rustin's philosophy. He used the Gandhian model to educate his peers like Martin Luther King Jr. of the importance of using the nonviolent approach. Through his input, Rustin redefined civil rights action.
Rustin should receive credit for the widespread influence he has had on the quest for rights and the people's liberty. Today, minorities, through movements such as the Black Lives Matter (BLM), picket and demonstrate on the streets without much interference from the law enforcers. The culture of taking to the streets to advocate for the rights and freedoms stemmed from Rustin's ideology. Other movements that continually fight for their rights using these strategies include the LGBTQ and the feminists. D'Emilio emphasizes Rustin's role in this by saying, "He resurrected mass peaceful protest from the graveyard in which cold war anti-Communist had buried it." 5 Since then, civil rights action has become part of the American fabric. Rustin’s appeal to morality was among the factors that contributed to his uniqueness. He wanted an equal America for every person. However, he also believed that the method used to advocate for these rights also mattered. Among the civil rights personalities, Rustin was among the most experienced. More importantly, he had tried and tested the power of mass action based on his previous encounters. For instance, in 1941, he participated in Randolph's March on Washington Movement, which compelled President Roosevelt's intervention on matters of racial discrimination. Therefore, his strategies came from the point of authority, and no one could question them heading to the civil rights actions of the 1960s.
Rustin's strategy was full of vision and wisdom. His actions were almost prophetic based on the ability to read and assess the mood of the country. Among his most significant proposals was the conversion of the civil rights movement into a social movement. Rustin knew that protest would never guarantee success on all occasions. Therefore, a social movement would be more appropriate since it is goal-oriented and immerses in the day's economic and political issues. Social movements are meant to achieve change through policies and legislations. However, the continuous protests and demonstration would only have temporary solutions for the Americans. As a realist, he also kept away from fighting for gay rights despite being an open homosexual. Two fundamental aspects informed his decision to refrain from gay activism. First, he knew that the time was not ripe for the American people to accept gay people as part of the community. Rustin was aware the few liberal citizens existed that would tolerate or even listen to gay activism. Secondly, Rustin knew that only one thing would succeed at a time. Spearheading the gay rights would jeopardize any efforts at achieving the much needed civil rights desires. Therefore, Rustin was forward-thinking and strategic in every action he sought to undertake.
In conclusion, John D'Emilio's "Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin" is a masterpiece that decides to give credit to where it was due. Based on the analysis, the readers can appreciate Rustin's role in promoting the nonviolent civil rights activism approach. Secondly, his sexuality acted against him, making him a victim of circumstances. His past criminal records and sexual conduct painted him in a bad light. The implication for the reader is that contemporary gay rights have come a long way. The persecution of Rustin for his identity paints the picture of an intolerant America in the 20 th century. Despite the lack of recognition, Rustin’s charisma and determination for a better America remains unmatched. He will remain an icon in the eyes and minds of many America who choose to be on the right side of history.
Bibliography
D'emilio, John. Lost prophet: The life and times of Bayard Rustin . Simon and Schuster, 2003.
Haskins, James. Bayard Rustin: Behind the scenes of the civil rights movement . Hyperion, 1997.
1 D'emilio, John. Lost prophet: The life and times of Bayard Rustin . Simon and Schuster, 2003.
2 Ibid
3 Haskins, James. Bayard Rustin: Behind the scenes of the civil rights movement . Hyperion, 1997.
4 Ibid
5 Ibid
