I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin's Life in Letters

Dive into the heart of America's civil rights movement with "I Must Resist: Bayard Rustin's Life in Letters." This compelling collection offers a profound look at the life of Bayard Rustin, a pivotal yet often overshadowed figure in the fight for racial justice and gender equality. Published on March 20, 2012, and posthumously celebrated with the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom, Rustin's narrative emerges through over 150 letters that encapsulate his thoughts, struggles, and strategies. From his role as a key advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr. to his advocacy for nonviolent protest and LGBTQ rights, Rustin's correspondence with influential contemporaries paints a vivid portrait of a man who tirelessly navigated the complexities of social activism. This book is an essential read for college students and all who seek a deeper understanding of the tactical planning that shaped pivotal moments in U.S. history. Rustin's legacy, captured in his own words, continues to inspire and challenge us to think critically about the path from protest to politics.