Telegram relaying preliminary results and observations of the Rhodesian elections, highlighting a 63.9% voter turnout with some districts reporting turnouts exceeding estimated eligible voters. Rustin, as a U.S. observer, affirmed the elections were free and fair and emphasized the historic significance of electing a Black prime minister. He also questioned the inconsistent sanctions policies of the U.S. toward Rhodesia and South Africa.
Under the Auspices of Freedom House, Rustin Attends a Political Rally in Zimbabwe/Rhodesia, April 1979
Amid the stirring energy of Zimbabwe/Rhodesia's transition toward majority rule, Bayard Rustin stands at the heart of a political rally, surrounded by campaign signs in English and indigenous languages. Demonstrators enthusiastically display “Be a Winner” and “Vote” placards, voicing hope and determination for the future of democracy in post-colonial Africa. This photograph captures Rustin actively engaged on the ground, bearing witness to the rise of Black political power after decades of white supremacist governance and colonial oppression.
