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Though it’s been 60 years since the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, its legacy continues. We’re familiar with the images, with the people involved, with that iconic speech. But the Netflix biopic Rustin tells the story behind the event—introducing the controversial figure who worked behind the scenes to make it happen.
Rustin stars Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin, a civil rights activist who felt compelled to rally the African-American community for a peaceful march on Washington. Rustin had been pushed to the outside of the movement’s inner circle because he was openly gay—and because he’d once been connected to the Communist Party. But with all of the different groups fighting over their cause, their goals, and their message, he was the only man with the passion and the drive to bring everyone together and to organize an event that no one thought was possible.
The film follows the process of putting this history-making event together on an impossibly tight schedule. Together with his team, Rustin managed to gather donations, organize transportation, call in celebrities, and more in just a matter of weeks—all while juggling the various organizations, their issues, and their expectations. And while he was forced to compromise on some of this plans, he refused to back down—even when his character, his dedication, and his abilities came into question.
Rustin is portrayed here not as some kind of saintly civil rights leader but as a real person. He’s not without his flaws, but you’ll love him anyway. He’s charismatic and confident. He’s passionate and playful and often funny, too. And while others make sure that they’re seen and heard, he’s content to do the work and let others take the credit, just happy knowing that he’s helped to make a difference. He’s the kind of character that viewers will enjoy getting to know—and they may even find themselves wishing that they’d gotten to know a little more about him. But Colman Domingo makes him come to life on the screen, taking this little-known character and helping to give him the place he deserves in history.
Though much of Rustin takes place in one business meeting after another, working through the politics of putting together this momentous event, it’s the character (and the performance) that really stands out. The finer details of the film may not be especially memorable, but this character is one that you won’t soon forget.
You can meet this unsung civil rights hero when Rustin arrives on Netflix on November 17, 2023.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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