Rustin (2023)

Who Is Bayard Rustin?

“Unsung” does not begin to describe the obscurity Bayard Rustin endured in the shadows of the Civil Rights Movement. ‘RUSTIN’ is a fictional account of a brilliant and beleaguered Bayard Rustin who was the architect behind the March On Washington For Jobs And Freedom and a founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

After being forced out of the NAACP, Bayard Rustin is relegated to obscurity and joins an anti-war organization. He soon becomes disillusioned with his White, liberal colleagues and resigns his position.

While wallowing in his dissatisfaction he has an epiphany. He gathers a group of young adults and begins brainstorming the next big event for the Movement - The March On Washington For Jobs And Freedom. He proposes the idea to the NAACP and after some discussions about his past, they all decide to move forward.

Most of the movie is centered around the planning of the March. It really communicates all the complexities needed to pull this off through a series of quick moving camera shots. Another chunk of the plot involves his sexual orientation. He begins a loose affiliation with a soon-to-be pastor, meeting with him at a local bar until it is raided by the police.

The film does a good job of making his intimate relationships central to his professional endeavors and how those around him tried to mitigate the impact on the Movement. One of these relationships which wasn’t clear was ‘Tom’(Gus Halper). I didn’t understand if he was Rustin’s roommate or lover. In any case, the weight of his personal life is palatable and adds to the emotional upswell of the film.

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