This column profiles Victor Rivera, a formerly incarcerated young man from East Harlem whose experiences with poverty, street crime, and prison ultimately led him toward education and community leadership. Rustin challenges stereotypes of Black youth as inherently criminal or rebellious, highlighting Rivera’s transformation into an educator, labor advocate, and mentor working to expand opportunities for other young people.
The Negro and the Unions
In this column, Bayard Rustin argues that organized labor has been a powerful force in reducing poverty and advancing economic opportunity for Black Americans. Highlighting apprenticeship and job-training programs that opened skilled trades to Black and Puerto Rican workers, he emphasizes the importance of union cooperation, preparation, and sustained access to employment in advancing racial and economic justice.
