Bayard Rustin: Behind the Scenes of the Civil Rights Movement

by James Haskins and Jim Haskins

Book Overview

A biography of Bayard Rustin, a skillful organizer behind the scenes of the American civil rights movement whose ideas stongly influenced Martin Luther King, Jr. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786801689
• ISBN13: 9780786801688
• Release Date: September 1996
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.3" x 9.4"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

What a great find!

I stumbled across this book at a thrift sale. Having first heard of Bayard Rustin about three years ago by way of a documentary film, I quickly snatched up the book at the bargain price of twenty-five cents! What started as a casual perusal of the text at the sale turned into a focused absorption of the life of one of the least acknowledged civil and human rights activist in the country's history. I'm still amazed that throughout high school and college history classes, some of which designed to highlight the African American experience, I don't recall ever encountering acknowledgement of his work in the movement. Well this book is an excellent start to making Rustin's story accessible to a mass reading public. The book is written for readers of the middle school age but it's not dummied down in content. The large font makes for fast reading at the adult level and its easy on the eyes for seniors. The book is organized in ten chapters and chronologically moves through Rustin's life and his involvement in various movements and organizations aimed at equality and freedom for the human race. Chapter titles are: * Growing Up Quaker * College and Communism * Conscientious Objector * Greater Militancy * The Civil Rights Movement Begins * The Southern Christian Leadership Conference * To March or Not to March * March Organizer * The March on Washington * International Organizer Although an older publication, I think this is a powerful addition to the classroom. A little leg work may be able to turn up copies at a great discount. I certainly plan on telling all of the educators that I know about the book. Highly Recommended!

*ARCHITECT OF AN UNFORGETTABLE MARCH TOWARD CHANGE*

Here is a fine biography for "Ages 10 and up" - - the "UP" being any age. "Behind the Scenes of the Civil Rights Movement" is about Bayard Rustin, a behind-the-scenes guy who not only lived in exciting times, he was a pivotal figure in the U.S. civil rights movement for decades. He was known as a "genius for organization" & the MARCH ON WASHINGTON happened in large part because of his skills. The 1963 March was the largest gathering of people 'of like mind' who had ever demonstrated peacefully, AND successfully. Bayard Rustin was a controversial young man, raised by Quaker grandparents who influenced his strong beliefs in nonviolence. Well-known author Jim Haskins describes Rustin's college days when he discovered he was a homosexual, and became interested in communism. Not much later a meeting with A. Philip Randolph (the famous organizer of black railroad porters) began a life-long influence on Rustin's thinking and direction. Bayard Rustin was a conscientious objector to war and chose to be imprisoned for those beliefs. After World War II he became involved and very influential regarding issues of protest marches and reconciliation. He died at age 75, still actively working for justice and human rights. At his funeral one of his recorded spirituals was played, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen". Bayard Rustin had a tenor voice which might have taken him successfully to a career as a musician but his compassion for people called him to a different road in life. Reviewer mcHaiku recommends this portrayal of an important worker toward change in American life; it is of particular value for young people to hear different views about 'service for the greater good' and about patriotism, and to weigh their own instincts against the pressures exerted by peers and the media.