*Please note: The exact date of this photograph is unknown.
Bayard Rustin is pictured speaking with young activists—Carolyn Carter, Cecil Carter, Kurt Levister, and Kathy Ross—who appear to be children, as they prepare for a civil rights demonstration. The photograph captures an early generation of youth involvement and Rustin’s mentorship role in guiding youthful organizers during the 1960s civil rights movement.
This image highlights the importance Rustin placed on community and youth engagement in social justice activism. His work building coalitions included fostering leadership among young people who would carry forward the movement’s principles of nonviolence and collective action.
Ed Ford, World Telegram & Sun. “Bayard Rustin with Youth Activists Preparing for Demonstration,” photograph, 1964. Library of Congress, accessed September 26, 2025, http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c18982.
