In this 1985 article, Bayard Rustin assesses U.S. disinvestment in South Africa, warning it could harm Black workers despite its moral appeal. Instead, he advocates for strengthening trade unions and supporting grassroots, multiracial movements as a more effective path to dismantling apartheid.
A Misguided Protest by Blacks at Harvard
In this opinion piece published in The New York Times, Bayard Rustin critiques Black student protests at Harvard University over the institution’s investments in apartheid-era South Africa. While acknowledging the students’ opposition to apartheid, Rustin argues that meaningful change requires sustained political action and broad-based coalitions rather than campus divestment campaigns.
Bayard Rustin’s Report on Rhodesian Elections and U.S. Observers’ Assessment
Telegram relaying preliminary results and observations of the Rhodesian elections, highlighting a 63.9% voter turnout with some districts reporting turnouts exceeding estimated eligible voters. Rustin, as a U.S. observer, affirmed the elections were free and fair and emphasized the historic significance of electing a Black prime minister. He also questioned the inconsistent sanctions policies of the U.S. toward Rhodesia and South Africa.
