This 1944 memorandum finds Bayard Rustin outlining practical strategies for combating employment discrimination through organized economic pressure and direct action. He details methods ranging from negotiations and boycotts to coordinated public demonstrations, emphasizing the power of collective purchasing and disciplined activism. The document serves as an early blueprint for strategic, nonviolent economic organizing.
Memorandum on Civilian Public Service and Prison Unrest
In this internal memorandum to Fellowship of Reconciliation staff and council, pacifist leader A.J. Muste reports on negotiations with the Selective Service System over reforms to the Civilian Public Service program. He outlines proposed changes to conscientious objector policies, including financial support, orientation centers, and reduced reliance on religious-run camps, while addressing growing protests within federal prisons.
