Bayard Rustin was born in Pennsylvania in 1912 to a teenage single mother. His mother was so young, that he grew up thinking that she was his sister and his grandparents were his parents. He earned his non-violent Quaker values from his grandparents. From a young age, he found out that he was treated differently simply because of his skin color. He played left tackle on his football team in high school, oftentimes he would join his teammates for impromptu sit-ins at local diners where staff refused to serve him because he was black. He reportedly came out as gay to his grandmother shortly before leaving home, to which she replied, "I suppose that's what you need to do".
In 1937, he moved to New York City where he attended college. There, he joined the Young Communist League but soon left when they refused to let him protest racial segregation in the armed forces. He was arrested several times throughout the 1940s and 1950s while continuing his efforts for civil rights. First, he was arrested for failing to appear before the draft board in 1944. He angered authorities so much with his advocation for desegregation and open homosexuality that he was transferred to a high-security prison where he served the rest of his 26-month sentence. He was again arrested in 1953 for his homosexuality.
He met Martin Luther King in 1956 where he helped orchestrate the famous Montgomery bus boycotts. He soon became a valuable member of King's close circle but was threatened by other civil rights leaders due to his homosexuality. At one point, another activist threatened to spread a rumor that he and Dr. King were lovers. Through all of this, he managed to organize one of the most important civil rights protests of all time: the March on Washington in 1963. He died in 1987, four days before the March on Washington's 24th anniversary.
Bayard Rustin was recently pardoned by California for his 1953 arrest, why do you think they pardoned him despite him passing away decades ago?
Rustin has received very little attention despite playing such an important role in the civil rights movements, why do you think that this is?
Replies
Achievements of gay Americans in history is something that needs more attention. Thanks for doing that. Well done!
I think that California pardoned him because they saw it as kind of a goodwill gesture. Since California is a state that has been a big supporter of gay right it makes sense that they would have pardoned a man that was as the start of gay rights. I think that he was overlooked since he was just one more person that played a part in civil rights.
I think they pardoned his arrest because the laws and the way people veiwed things like racism and homosexuality was different back then and they probably realised what happened wasn't right. I think he doesn't get credit is because he was arrested and it wouldn't look as good on the movement.
Personally, This is a very interesting story I had no clue who this man was even though as a student we have all learned about Martin Luther King Jr. I think he was pardoned because of the way the world has changes so much in the years since these incidents. We live in a equal rights world and them pardoning him is a huge step in history. And it will bring allot of attention to his story.
I toatally agree with you Chace I think the reason is because we live in a much different world today were everyone is pretty well equal and I also think it is a big step in history for them to pardon his arrest and it shows how they should be treated equally.
I think that they pardoned him because they wanted more people to start to learn about him again. I also think they did it because they didn't want people to think that they were against gay people. I think that perhaps people don't talk about him because some people are a little uncomfortable when it goes to talking about people being gay and stuff.
rI think that he was pardoned for his arrest so long after it occured because society now realizes, more that before,that racism and homophobia is wrong. I believe that the reason why he didn't get recognition is unfortunately because he was gay.
I think they did this so that it would make his name pop up more and so people would start to learn about his story once again. I think he had little credit because he was just another guy in the background of things and MLK was the head of the media at the time.
I think they pardoned him because they didn't want people to think they were against gay people anymore. I don't think he has been payed much attention to because he was the right-hand man, and he was being overshadowed by Martin Luthor King.
History has not been kind in the rememberance and representation of homosexuality. Even if it wasn't intentional, internalized homophobia has mot likely prevented Rustin from being brought to the light. This has happened in recent and ancient history. Homosexuality has been barred from our history books making people feel opressed beacuse they are not being represented.
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