The unknown heroes of the Civil Rights Movement
How the unknown heroes of the Civil Rights Movement helped organize the March on Washington
December 1962:
« Things aren’t moving fast enough, Martin. », [Bayard] Rustin sighed, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray. Martin [Luther King Jr] could almost hear the disappointment in his voice. Rustin would never say it explicitly – he was too respectful and tactful - but Martin could sense it. They have known each other for six years now. Rustin helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott that put Martin in the limelight and he became a true inspiration for him. And even more than that: he became his mentor. He was the one that taught him the philosophy of non-violence.
Martin has always respected his ideas. And the person he was: a black and gay communist. Above all, he was the most dogged person he met in his entire life. And that was the most important.
“Rustin is right, Martin. The Kennedys have done nothing yet. People need a strong signal. This has to become national. We must develop huge demonstrations, because the world is used to big dramatic affairs. They think in terms of hundreds of thousands and millions and billions. Billions of dollars are appropriated at the twinkling of an eye. Nothing little counts.1” Martin was listening to this singsong voice carefully. [Asa Philip] Randolph was like an iron fist in a velvet glove. Twenty years ago, in the early 40s, he and Rustin organized the March on Washington Movement. They called for 10,000 black workers to march on Washington, to protest against discriminatory hiring in the defense industry. Roosevelt was so much afraid of a misdemeanor that he agreed to Randolph’s requests even before the march could take place! Randolph used to never mince his words: as the President of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first black labor union, he had done more for black people than any politician at that time.
Martin was walking up and down. Randolph and Rustin wanted this national march to
December 1962:
« Things aren’t moving fast enough, Martin. », [Bayard] Rustin sighed, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray. Martin [Luther King Jr] could almost hear the disappointment in his voice. Rustin would never say it explicitly – he was too respectful and tactful - but Martin could sense it. They have known each other for six years now. Rustin helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott that put Martin in the limelight and he became a true inspiration for him. And even more than that: he became his mentor. He was the one that taught him the philosophy of non-violence.
Martin has always respected his ideas. And the person he was: a black and gay communist. Above all, he was the most dogged person he met in his entire life. And that was the most important.
“Rustin is right, Martin. The Kennedys have done nothing yet. People need a strong signal. This has to become national. We must develop huge demonstrations, because the world is used to big dramatic affairs. They think in terms of hundreds of thousands and millions and billions. Billions of dollars are appropriated at the twinkling of an eye. Nothing little counts.1” Martin was listening to this singsong voice carefully. [Asa Philip] Randolph was like an iron fist in a velvet glove. Twenty years ago, in the early 40s, he and Rustin organized the March on Washington Movement. They called for 10,000 black workers to march on Washington, to protest against discriminatory hiring in the defense industry. Roosevelt was so much afraid of a misdemeanor that he agreed to Randolph’s requests even before the march could take place! Randolph used to never mince his words: as the President of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first black labor union, he had done more for black people than any politician at that time.
Martin was walking up and down. Randolph and Rustin wanted this national march to