This confidential 1980 correspondence highlights Bayard Rustin’s decision to decline an honorary degree from Yeshiva University on principle. Citing the university’s legal challenge to faculty union rights, Rustin argues that accepting the honor would conflict with his lifelong commitment to organized labor. The exchange reflects his willingness to place deeply held values above personal recognition.
Senate Committee Correspondence on the Occupational Safety and Health Act Amendments
This 1980 letter documents an exchange between Senator Harrison A. Williams Jr. and Bayard Rustin regarding proposed changes to workplace safety laws. Responding to concerns from Rustin and the A. Philip Randolph Institute, Williams explains his efforts to strengthen OSHA while protecting it from political attacks. The correspondence highlights shared concerns about safeguarding workers’ rights, particularly for those without union representation.
