Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is usually credited for the iconic March on Washington in August 1963, but it was actually Rustin who organized the historical event. The march brought more than 200,000 peaceful protestors of varying races and religions together to hear King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. As a gay man who had controversial ties to communism, he was considered too much of a liability to be on the front lines of the movement so he worked in the background. Rustin also helped King found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Bayard Rustin: Black History Month Spotlight
