Creating a Multicultural Nation Without Racism
The overlooked civil rights activist, educator, and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, often called the architect of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, is finally getting his due, thanks to the new film directed by George C. Wolfe titled "Rustin."
In this film, director Joy Elaine Davenport used recordings and photographs to tell the story of Fannie Lou Hamer's vision and activism.
In 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Bayard Rustin the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. The Presidential statement to the press read:
“Bayard Rustin was an unyielding activist for civil rights, dignity, and equality for all... and fought tirelessly for marginalized communities at home and abroad. An openly gay African American, Mr. Rustin stood at the intersection of several of the fights for equal rights.”
This film tells the story of the Montgomery bus boycott highlighting the role of women in kicking off the boycott, the role of Dr. King, and the important role that Barnard Ruskin played in clarifying the importance of non-violent resistance.
Veteran civil rights and labor leader A. Randolph was the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The fact that the March gathered a quarter of a million people was a tribute to his skill as an organizer. His final challenge to those gathered was, “When we leave, it will be to carry on the civil rights revolution home with us into every nook and cranny of the land.” That challenge is as relevant today as it was in 1963.
Although I have read what is commonly referred to as Martin Luther King's Dream speech several times in the past, preparation for this conference sent me back to read the speech again. What strikes me most today is how contemporary the speech is. With just a few changes to update the language to what we use today and several clarifications, the speech would be a powerful expression of our current situation and a description of where we need to go from here.
KING is a 2-disk DVD set that was originally broadcast as TV mini-series. It includes Dr. Kings speech at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.