A 1963 leaflet calling to action for the March on Washington reveals Rustin's hidden yet crucial role as chief organizer, marginalized due to prejudice against his sexuality despite his organizational brilliance.
The March on Washington was conceived during a pivotal moment when civil rights activism was gaining national attention but facing fierce Southern resistance and federal reluctance to act. Internal civil rights leadership struggled with questions or respectability politics, leading to Rustin's marginalization despite his unparalleled organizing skills. His sexuality and former communist associations made him vulnerable to attacks that could undermine the March's legitimacy in the eyes of mainstream America and political allies, forcing movement leaders to balance moral principles with strategic practicality in their fight for racial justice.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Leaflet mobilizing activists for the March on Washington, 1963. https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/leaflet.
