Overview

• Netflix's new film 'Rustin' sheds light on the life of Bayard Rustin, a key figure behind the scenes of the civil rights movement who remained largely unrecognized due to his identity as a gay Black man in the 1960s.
• The film aims to bring attention to the double discrimination faced by individuals like Rustin, highlighting intersectionality within civil rights activism.
• Rustin, born in 1912, was an activist for economic justice, equal rights, and peace. He was a go-to organizer for demonstrations and a champion for 'creative trouble'. His most significant achievement was the organization of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
• Despite his contributions, Rustin was initially cut out from Martin Luther King Jr.'s inner circle due to his open homosexuality, which posed problems in a homophobic society of the time. Later, the two reconciled, with Rustin continuing to play a critical role in the civil rights movement.
• The film, produced by the Obamas' Higher Ground media company, is set to stream on Netflix from November 17. It is being released at a time when discussions about teaching Black history and LGBTQ+ rights are heated across the U.S.