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The American Civil Rights Movement

Decent Essays

The American Civil Rights Movement is personified through several prominent personalities. These figures exhibited strong character throughout their careers in activism that revolutionized the ideals and opportunities of the 20th century, standing as precedents for courage and perseverance in the face of widespread systemic oppression. However, not all of these figures received the acknowledgment and acceptance that their legacy deserved. One such figure was Bayard Rustin, a lifelong Civil Rights activist in the African American and LGBTQ communities whose experiences exemplified the hardships faced by American minorities. His career was defined by perpetual conflict and confrontation as both sides of the Civil Rights Movement attempted to demonize and discredit him. Despite this obstacle, Bayard Rustin’s controversial decision-making and sheer tenacity made him an influential force in the ongoing fight for equality in the United States of America.
As a notably outspoken activist, Bayard Rustin quickly emerged as a controversial figure due to his political affiliations and personal life. In the 1930s, Rustin, having witnessed and experienced years of systemic racial discrimination and segregation, chose to join the Young Communist League. However, shortly after he joined, the Communist Party of America abandoned their domestic policy, shifting their focus to the outbreak of World War II. Despite his close ties to the party, Rustin saw this as a betrayal of his platform and

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