In this piece, Bayard Rustin argues that by the early 1970s the civil rights movement had entered a new phase, shifting from protest to “political self-expression” through voting, organizing, and coalition-building. He urges a move toward professional, interracial politics focused on winning power in Congress and securing broad economic reforms rather than retreating into race-based isolation.
The Professionalization of the Movement: Lessons from 1972
Clarifying Political Realignment: Rebuilding the Democratic Coalition and Opposing New Left Extremism
In this column published in The St. Louis American, Bayard Rustin clarifies his views on political realignment, arguing that the democratic left must engage the working class while opposing the disruptive tactics of the New Left. He warns that alienating working-class Americans could strengthen conservative forces and calls for a broader coalition united around economic justice and political stability.
