How Did Bayard Rustin Influence The Civil Rights Movement
Bayard Rustin
In the 1960s, many civil rights activists fought for equal rights against segregation. Northerns also fought for equal rights, even though they already had equal rights. Bayard Rustin played an important part in the civil right movement. Bayard Rustin made the country better with his part in the civil rights movement.
Bayard Rustin was born on March 17, 1912 to Florence Rustin and Archie Hopkins. He was born into a fairly wealthy family and he was the youngest of 9 kids. He was raised by his grandparents, Julia and Janifer Rustin. He always believed that his grandparents were his parents and he thought his mother was actually his older sister. In 1932 he entered Wilberforce University in Ohio and in 1936 was expelled …show more content…
His political philosophy was inspired by the Quaker Religion, since his grandma was a Quaker, and the theory of non-violent protest(Haskins). Rustin started to join anti-segregation groups where they planned marches and protest. One of his group leaders put him and two other people in charge of organizing the March on Washington. That is where King Jr. made his “I have a dream” speech. The three men that were chosen to walk to the White House, speak with President Roosevelt in the Oval Office and tell him about segregation. The three men persuaded Roosevelt and he passed a bill that made segregation illegal. Later on, Rustin went to California and was part of a protest to save the properties of over 120,000 Japanese-Americans. In 1942, he boarded a bus in Louisville, headed for Nashville, and sat in the second row. A number of drivers asked him to move to the back, but Rustin refused. The bus was stopped by police 13 miles north of Nashville and Rustin was arrested. He was beaten and taken to the police station, but was released uncharged. In 1953 he was also arrested on a morals charge for publicly engaging in homosexual activity and was sent to jail for 60 days. However, he continued to live as an openly gay
In the 1960s, many civil rights activists fought for equal rights against segregation. Northerns also fought for equal rights, even though they already had equal rights. Bayard Rustin played an important part in the civil right movement. Bayard Rustin made the country better with his part in the civil rights movement.
Bayard Rustin was born on March 17, 1912 to Florence Rustin and Archie Hopkins. He was born into a fairly wealthy family and he was the youngest of 9 kids. He was raised by his grandparents, Julia and Janifer Rustin. He always believed that his grandparents were his parents and he thought his mother was actually his older sister. In 1932 he entered Wilberforce University in Ohio and in 1936 was expelled …show more content…
His political philosophy was inspired by the Quaker Religion, since his grandma was a Quaker, and the theory of non-violent protest(Haskins). Rustin started to join anti-segregation groups where they planned marches and protest. One of his group leaders put him and two other people in charge of organizing the March on Washington. That is where King Jr. made his “I have a dream” speech. The three men that were chosen to walk to the White House, speak with President Roosevelt in the Oval Office and tell him about segregation. The three men persuaded Roosevelt and he passed a bill that made segregation illegal. Later on, Rustin went to California and was part of a protest to save the properties of over 120,000 Japanese-Americans. In 1942, he boarded a bus in Louisville, headed for Nashville, and sat in the second row. A number of drivers asked him to move to the back, but Rustin refused. The bus was stopped by police 13 miles north of Nashville and Rustin was arrested. He was beaten and taken to the police station, but was released uncharged. In 1953 he was also arrested on a morals charge for publicly engaging in homosexual activity and was sent to jail for 60 days. However, he continued to live as an openly gay