In this 1978 New York Times op-ed, Bayard Rustin reflects on the civil rights movement’s shift from street protest to electoral politics, arguing that true economic justice depends on disciplined engagement with democracy. He cautions against abandoning the ballot for disruption, warning that when democracy erodes, marginalized communities are the first to pay the price.
Bayard Rustin at the Forefront of Anti-Segregation Organizing, 1950s
Rustin sits before a striking sign that reads "Jim Crow Can't Teach Democracy," encapsulating the spirit of his grassroots campaigns to expose and dismantle segregation in American society. The placard signals both protest and political messaging, emblematic of Rustin’s commitment to challenging the hypocrisy of racial discrimination in a nation founded on democratic principles.
