Bayard Rustin, civil rights organizer and executive director of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, called on Americans to rid themselves of both "black rage" and "white fear" as essential to achieving racial progress and economic justice.
Delivered at a dinner honoring Rustin, this statement reflected the complex racial and political tensions of the 1970s, when urban riots, white backlash, and fears of black militancy challenged ongoing efforts for racial equality. Rustin emphasized coalition-building with labor and moderate political forces, stressing the need for shared power and responsible activism to combat systemic poverty and discrimination, while warning against divisive rhetoric and ineffective protest strategies.
“Rustin Asks for End to ‘Black Rage and White Fear.’” 1970. TimesMachine. December 15, 1970. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1970/12/15/78821445.html?pageNumber=36.
