|Rustin, Bayard (1910-1987)| A close advisor to Martin Luther
King and one of the most influential and effective organizers of
the civil rights movement, Bayard Rustin was affectionately
referred to as ‘‘Mr. March-on-Washington’’ by A. Philip Randolph
(D’Emilio, 347). Rustin organized and led a number of protests
in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, including the 1963 March on
Washington for Jobs and Freedom. While Rustin’s homosexuality
and formeraffiliation with the Communist Party led some to
question King’s relationship with him, King recognized the
importance of Rustin’s skills and dedication to the movement. In
a 1960 letter, King told a colleague: ‘‘We are thoroughly
committed to the method of nonviolence in our struggle and we
are convinced that Bayard’s expertness and commitment in this
area will be of inestimable value’’ (Papers 5:390). Born on 17
March 1912, Rustin was one of 12 children raised by his
grandparents, Janifer and Julia Rustin, in West Chester,
Pennsylvania. Rustin’s life-long commitment to