In this letter, Bayard Rustin corrects the record on his stance toward the Vietnam War and his advice to Dr. King, emphasizing that his disagreement was strategic, not ideological. Drawing on hard-earned movement experience, Rustin argues that keeping the civil rights and peace movements distinct was essential to protecting their political strength and effectiveness.
Rustin on the Incompatibility of Totalitarianism and Justice
In this exchange, Bayard Rustin defends his public challenge to Soviet human rights abuses, arguing that economic security without freedom of speech, assembly, or dissent is not true justice. While acknowledging America’s own failures, Rustin underscores the democratic “utility of politics,” insisting that the ability to openly challenge power—and win accountability through courts and public pressure—is essential to any genuine struggle for human rights.
Rustin’s Appeal to Mayor Koch
In this letter to Mayor Ed Koch, Bayard Rustin forcefully defends New York’s Gay Rights Bill, urging leaders to protect it in its strongest form as a measure of true democracy. Drawing on his civil rights experience, Rustin frames LGBTQ+ rights as a universal human rights issue and asserts the responsibility of political power to safeguard those most vulnerable.
Bayard Rustin’s Reflections on Race and Sexuality
In this letter to Joseph Beam, Bayard Rustin declines to participate in a collection of Black gay oral histories, explaining that his lifelong commitment to social struggle came not from identity, but from Quaker teachings that affirmed the “inner light” in every person. He frames his sexuality as a private matter—often made public against his will—and affirms that his deepest allegiance was always to universal principles of nonviolence and human rights.
Rustin on the First Federal King Holiday
Written just after the first national MLK Day, this letter finds Bayard Rustin cautioning against the canonization of Dr. King, arguing that portraying him as a flawless, superhuman figure makes his work seem unreachable and obscures the collective nature of the movement. Rustin urges a more honest history that recognizes King as part of a disciplined team—and honors the many unsung strategists whose collaboration made social change possible.
