I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin's Life in Letters

by Bayard Rustin, Michael G. Long (Editor), Julian Bond (Foreword)

BAYARD RUSTIN POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE 2013 PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM A master strategist and tireless activist, Bayard Rustin is best remembered as the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, one of the largest nonviolent protests ever held in the United States. He brought Gandhi's protest techniques to the American civil rights movement and played a deeply influential role in the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., helping to mold him into an international symbol of nonviolence. Despite these achievements, Rustin often remained in the background. He was silenced, threatened, arrested, beaten, imprisoned and fired from important leadership positions, largely because he was an openly gay man in a fiercely homophobic era. Here we have Rustin in his own words in a collection of over 150 of his eloquent, impassioned letters; his correspondents include the major progressives of his day—including Eleanor Holmes Norton, A. Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, Ella Baker and, of course, Martin Luther King, Jr. Bayard Rustin's ability to chart the path "from protest to politics" is both timely and deeply informative. Here, at last, is direct access to the strategic thinking and tactical planning that led to the successes of one of America's most transformative and historic social movements. "Rustin was a life-long agitator for justice. He changed America—and the world—for the better. This collection of his letters makes his life and his passions come vividly alive, and helps restore him to history, a century after this birth. I Must Resist makes for inspiring reading."—John D'Emilio, author of Lost The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin "A vital addition to the history of the civil rights movement by an exceptionally determined, vital and creative force who was invaluable to Martin Luther King, Jr., and A. Philip Randolph among many others."—Nat Hentoff "Bayard Rustin's courageously candid letters, most of which have never before been available to researchers, provide fascinating glimpses into the private life of one of history's most reticent public figures."—Clayborne Carson, Founding Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute at Stanford University "These letters—poetic, incisive, passionate, and above all political in the broadest meaning of the word—span almost four decades not only of Bayard Rustin's life but of the emotional and spiritual life of America. There is hardly a social justice movement during this time in which Rustin was not involved from pacifism to ending poverty to battles for sexual freedom. Michael Long's brilliant editing has created a compelling historical narrative and reading these letters is to be witness to the ever-evolving conscience that guides our country's endangered, but surviving, commitment to freedom."—Michael Bronksi, author of A Queer History of the United States "Bayard Rustin was a committed but very complicated person. This marvelously annotated collection of letters explain the spirit, and evolution of the thoughts and actions of an often overlooked key figure in the 20th century civil and human rights movement."—Mary Frances Berry, Geraldine Segal Professor of American Social Thought, University of Pennsylvania, and former Chair United States Commission on Civil Rights "All aspects of Rustin's experiences are captured in these letters, including his struggles with opponents dedicated to silencing him as an international symbol of nonviolent protests against racial injustice. This remarkable and deeply moving publication is a must-read."—William Julius Wilson, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor, Harvard University

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Race, Biography, LGBT, Memoir, African American

546 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 20, 2012

About the author

American civil rights leader and pacifist Bayard Rustin organized the march on Washington in 1963.

Bayard Rustin, an African moved for socialism, nonviolence, and gay.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayard_...

Reviews

[Amanda Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a few months, but I finished this incredible book! It is not a book for everybody- it is dense, historical and often academic. I found it to be challenging and deepened my understanding of the United States. Rustin was intersectional before there was a term for it- black, pro-labor, nonviolent and gay. By learning about his life and activities, I am humbled and inspired.

Three of my favorite learnings:
1. In a letter from jail, Rustin wrote to someone who asked him if nonviolence would work in a situation like Hitler's leadership in Germany. His response "It is not maintained that these means can be used by Americans to stop immediately an aggressive Hitler, but it must be felt that the vicious circle must be broken now and witness given to another way of life." (page 59+) Throughout his life, Rustin was asked if his work made a difference and occasionally he answered with a "long view" approach.

2. When Strom Thurmond went public in accusing Rustin of being black, homosexual and a socialist a number of Rustin's friends write an incredible letter to the editor. While never directly denying Thurmond's statement about his homosexuality, Rustin's friends spoke highly of his impeccable moral character. I found it to be a great example of how to respond to criticism. (page 262+)

3. When people started suggesting a march commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Rustin wrote a compelling explanation to Corretta Scott King and other as to why this was not a good idea. (He had been the organizer of the 1963 march.) His reasons were a clear example of how sometimes a very good and noble idea should be rejected. (They lacked money, capacity, people, a unified message and couldn't assure a peaceful protest, among other things.) Instead he proposed an alternative banquet/organizational forum which was carried out instead of a march. (page 435+)

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has knocked my socks off! I knew that Rustin was a black gay Quaker, and I had even read his biography from a few years back, _Lost Prophet_, but to read his words is nothing less than sensational. His 1942 letter to his draft board, in which he refused CO status, is laced with language about Jesus and God. When he was imprisoned in that same year, the first thing that he did was write the warden about the segregated conditions of the inmates, saying that in the Sermon on the "Mountain" [sic], Jesus said segregation was wrong. In another letter from prison around that same time, he talks about the operetta the prisoners are performing, then he talks about his being beaten up by whites (and he did not fight back and instructed those who attempted to help him not to fight back), and he concludes the letter by saying he wants to learn to play the mandolin! And that's saying nothing about how he tutored MLK and others in Gandhian non-violence in 1956, his organizing the '63 march, and various other trials and triumphs! Rustin was an original! This book is a gold-mine!

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read this book after a story on Democracy Now about the upcoming 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. I had no idea that the person who organized the march was a gay man and (at first) a committed pacifist who taught King the non-violence tactics employed by his hero Gandhi! The book is not a straight biography but is Rustin's many, many letters interspersed with small explanations about the significance of the addressee. Rustin became more and more moderate in his later years, and never entirely embraced his gay identity. A fascinating portrayal and anybody interested in civi rights or American history would find the book very interesting.

[Rach Wigg]

This is an intimate book about a central and often overlooked figure in the Civil Rights movement. Rustin was the moral and intellectual sounding board for almost every Civil Rights leader, and was also an out gay man (though he viewed sexuality as a private matter, and was outted and arrested in California, a conviction recently pardoned by the CA governor). I had never read a collection of letters before, and I’m not sure I will again anytime soon. It’s not a format I loved, but it was really cool to hear Rustin’s ideas and thoughts in his own words!

[Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

More people need to know about Bayard Rustin, a gay African-American activist who played a role in practically every major Civil Rights Movement events. Through his correspondences, we learn about his beliefs. A great example of a flawed individual who did great good things.

[Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone thinking of a life in activism

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading him in his own letters - to everyone from the warden of his jail cell to Randolph, King, Muste, presidents, and from Gandhi to Tutu - is astounding. A clear window into an the mind of an extraordinary thinker and leader over decades of impact.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in history, this is a must read book. Bayard Rustin's life and career shaped many social movements and advocacy efforts. I enjoyed this book.

[City Lights Booksellers & Publishers · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Collected from over more than four decades, these letters are a reminder that one man can make a difference. . . . culled with care by editor Long, who also provides scene-setting historical and cultural annotations."
-Richard Labonte, The Rainbow Times

"This collection of letters sheds light on one of the great overlooked activists of the 20th century. Each letter is prefaced by a paragraph providing context, helpful for those who don't have a deep knowledge of the events of that era. . . . His letters--some 150 are collected here chronologically--reveal an eloquent, persuasive activist, unafraid to challenge so-called authority figures when he encountered injustice."
—Philadelphia Gay News Staff

[willowdog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating resource documenting Bayard's multi-interests. What a great, inspiring individual. However, little gay content. Have to vote no.