Angelic Troublemakers, Tactical Deviants
Angelic Troublemaker, after Rustin
Watercolor, watercolor pencil, and marker on paper
20 x 18 inches
2024
Bayard Rustin (1912–1987) played a crucial role in American civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and LGBTQIA+ rights. He organized the landmark March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 and served as one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s closest advisors on nonviolent resistance. Despite his significant contributions, Rustin faced discrimination and criticism for his sexuality, which led him to take a more background role in the Civil Rights Movement. His efforts are not as widely recognized due to his desire to keep his sexuality from affecting the movement.
“We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers.”
— Bayard Rustin