Morgan BellMartin Luther King Jr had a gay mentor
March 12th 2009 18:27
Bayard Rustin counseled Dr Martin Luther King Jr. on the techniques of non-violent resistance.
Rustin (1912 - 1987) was a homosexual African American man who was instrumental in the community organising that led to the success of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.
From 1978 Rustin lived in New York City with his partner Walter Naegle. Rustin died aged 75 from a perforated appendix.
"Twenty-five, thirty years ago, the barometer of human rights in the United States were black people. That is no longer true. The barometer for judging the character of people in regard to human rights is now those who consider themselves gay, homosexual, or lesbian."
"[the barometer is the gay community] because it is the community which is most easily mistreated."
Bayard Rustin 1986
Few people are aware that it was an openly gay man that Dr. King tapped to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington (where King gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech).
King recognised the advantages of Rustin's knowledge, contacts, and organizational abilities. As King's special assistant, Rustin assumed a variety of roles, including proofreader, ghostwriter, philosophy teacher, and non-violent strategist.
During the Bus Boycott, Rustin became King's main adviser and together they formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
Before meeting King, Rustin was a founder of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) which was formed in 1942.
CORE was conceived as a Pacifist organization based on the writings of Henry David Thoreau and modeled after Mohandas Gandhi's non-violent resistance against British rule in India.
These principles of non-violence became the backbone of the SCLC and the personal philosophy of Dr King.
Rustin became a Pacifist from a young age. He was influenced by the religious and political beliefs of his grandmother, Julia Rustin. Julia was a Pacifist and a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP). Some of its leaders of the NAACP would occassionally stay in the Rustin family home.
In his early days of activism Rustin worked with Socialists from the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), and with the Communist Party. Rustin was also imprisoned several times for both refusing to fight in the armed forces and for acts of homosexuality.
Because of these facts Rustin became the target of political smearing and was investigated by the FBI.
An FBI undercover agent managed to take a photograph of Rustin talking to King while he was having a bath. This photograph was then used to support false stories being circulated that Rustin was having a homosexual relationship with King.
FBI Internal Memo 1966
Further reading:
Really Long Link
Really Long Link
Really Long Link
See also the PBS documentary film Brother Outsider.
Rustin (1912 - 1987) was a homosexual African American man who was instrumental in the community organising that led to the success of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.
From 1978 Rustin lived in New York City with his partner Walter Naegle. Rustin died aged 75 from a perforated appendix.
"Twenty-five, thirty years ago, the barometer of human rights in the United States were black people. That is no longer true. The barometer for judging the character of people in regard to human rights is now those who consider themselves gay, homosexual, or lesbian."
"[the barometer is the gay community] because it is the community which is most easily mistreated."
Bayard Rustin 1986
Few people are aware that it was an openly gay man that Dr. King tapped to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington (where King gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech).
King recognised the advantages of Rustin's knowledge, contacts, and organizational abilities. As King's special assistant, Rustin assumed a variety of roles, including proofreader, ghostwriter, philosophy teacher, and non-violent strategist.
During the Bus Boycott, Rustin became King's main adviser and together they formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
Before meeting King, Rustin was a founder of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) which was formed in 1942.
CORE was conceived as a Pacifist organization based on the writings of Henry David Thoreau and modeled after Mohandas Gandhi's non-violent resistance against British rule in India.
These principles of non-violence became the backbone of the SCLC and the personal philosophy of Dr King.
Rustin became a Pacifist from a young age. He was influenced by the religious and political beliefs of his grandmother, Julia Rustin. Julia was a Pacifist and a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP). Some of its leaders of the NAACP would occassionally stay in the Rustin family home.
In his early days of activism Rustin worked with Socialists from the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), and with the Communist Party. Rustin was also imprisoned several times for both refusing to fight in the armed forces and for acts of homosexuality.
Because of these facts Rustin became the target of political smearing and was investigated by the FBI.
An FBI undercover agent managed to take a photograph of Rustin talking to King while he was having a bath. This photograph was then used to support false stories being circulated that Rustin was having a homosexual relationship with King.
Rustin is a very competent individual who is widely known in the civil rights field. He is personally familiar with numerous individuals with communist backgrounds. As one of Martin Luther King's closest advisers, he is in a position to wield considerable influence on King's activities. Technical coverage of Rustin is an important part of the overall coverage of King, who is the most prominent civil rights in the country today. Because of the influence being exerted on King by persons with subversive backgrounds, it is necessary for us to maintain coverage of individuals such as Rustin. In order to fulfill the Bureau's responsibilities to uncover communist influence in racial matters, it is recommended that technical coverage of Rustin be continued.
FBI Internal Memo 1966
Further reading:
Really Long Link
Really Long Link
Really Long Link
See also the PBS documentary film Brother Outsider.
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Comment by Chris Champion
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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thanks
i had not even heard of Bayard before this week, and with a bit of research i discovered he was a vital, yet largely unrecognised, part of the Civil Rights movement
i thought the FBI stupidity was kind of funny . . .
what a life!
Comment by Jason King
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Great to know of another inspirational person! Cool post Morgan!
Comment by Norm
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Comment by Chris Champion
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Comment by Norm
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Comment by RubySoho
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Doesn't that just send a chill up your spine?
You know what the sad thing is? Many people will read this as an attempt by you to smear MLK, instead of what it is- praise for his non discriminatory attitude. Great story.
Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling
Potter in a Harry
Martin Luther King doesn't even rate a mention in the Roman Martryrology. Why?
Cos he was a campaigner and activist for human rights. Not God's rights. Poor niggers from Harlem. boo hoo.
You really dribble some shit Morgan. Do you have a life independent of the media? Do you actually do anything other than surf the net?
Comment by RubySoho
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Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang
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Stay healthy and loose weight
Cheers
Comment by alt_ed
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Do you actually have any 'adult' responsibilities,,, other than your junk mail run?
Do you have a life independent of being a dole bludger? Do you ACTUALLY do anything other than surf the net?!
Comment by alt_ed
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What ever you have, may, or will say about me doesn't change the fact that you're a pathetic little man. Get a life, and a JOB- I'm fucking sick of my taxes supporting your 'lifestyle'.
Comment by Janet Collins
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What's height got to do with it?
Comment by Morgan Bell
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they walk amongst us!
maybe the screenwriter of Milk might consider the story of Bayard Rustin for his next project?
hi Norm,
youre just jealous!
hi Ruby,
yes the memo was a little unnerving - its strange how the FBI used to (still do) consider the biggest threats to internal security to be people demanding (in a non-violent way) to have equal rights
and yes i did intend this story to be complimentary to Dr King, i have even more respect for him knowing he could see beyond sexuality when it came to getting an important job done
hi David,
did you really just call Martin Luther King Jr a nigger?
if you actually read the post you would see it was a story of triumph and achievement and in no way a sob piece
hi Peter Yang,
thanks for the support!
hi alt_ed,
its like the pot calling the kettle a nigger . . .
hi Janet,
Norm likes looking up to people . . .
Comment by Postmodern Critic
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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i think everyones ignoring him
im glad you enjoyed the article