This 1968 column finds Bayard Rustin defending due process for teachers amid controversy within the United Federation of Teachers. He argues that justice and fairness must guide the movement, even in the face of internal criticism, and warns against replicating the injustices it seeks to overcome. Rustin ultimately calls for thoughtful debate, principled leadership, and collaboration between educators and communities.
Bayard Rustin at the 1968 Democratic National Convention with Julian Bond and John Lewis
This Rich Black Earth: The Mandate for Institutional Change
This 1968 column finds Bayard Rustin arguing that racism is fundamentally rooted in institutions and public policy rather than individual prejudice alone. Reflecting on the Kerner Commission Report, he emphasizes that lasting progress comes through transforming laws, schools, and economic systems—not simply changing personal attitudes. Rustin ultimately calls for a movement focused on structural reform and the democratization of American institutions.
