Cleveland Robinson

Bayard Rustin and Cleveland Robinson at the March on Washington National Headquarters, 1963

Captured in front of the National Headquarters sign in Harlem, this photo shows civil rights leaders organizing for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a pivotal event set to take place less than a month later.

Organizing Manuals No. 1 and No. 2: The Blueprint for the March on Washington

Issued by Bayard Rustin and Cleveland Robinson, these manuals provided the strategic and logistical blueprint for the 1963 March on Washington, transforming a sweeping moral vision into a meticulously disciplined mass action. Outlining nonviolent commitments, economic demands, and precise operational details—from participant quotas to internal security—the guides ensured the march’s message of jobs and freedom was matched by flawless execution.