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In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, join us for a screening of the documentary Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin (2022, produced and directed by Nancy D. Kates and Bennet Singer, 1 hour and23 minutes). Activist and organizer, Bayard Rustin was one of the key thinkers and strategists of the American civil rights movement. His passionate belief in the use of nonviolence drew Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders to him during the 1940s and 1950s. As the chief architect of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the largest protest in the United States, Rustin was instrumental in changing the course of American history. However, living as an openly gay man forced him to remain in the background, making him again and again a “brother outsider.” Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin combines rare archival footage with provocative interviews to illuminate the life and work of a forgotten prophet of social change.

The spirit of the film complements many of the themes in the exhibition Lyle Ashton Harris: Our first and last love.

On view now

Madonna and Child, mid-14th century
Madonna and Child, mid-14th century. Limestone. Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Gift of Walter Naegle, from the collection of his partner, Bayard Rustin; and a photo of Bayard Rustin at home in his apartment in front of the sculpture. Photo by Dr. Ronald Sanford Merians.

Also in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, visitors will find—at the entrance to Wilson Pavilion—a monumental French sculpture of the Madonna and Child from the mid 14th century that belonged to Bayard Rustin, principal organizer of the March on Washington and an advisor to the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
From the wall label: “Raised by his Quaker grandmother, Rustin considered himself an “angelic troublemaker,” a pacifist who used nonviolent protest to promote civil and human rights as well as the labor movement. Rustin worked as an advisor to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was the principal organizer of the March on Washington, a protest calling for equal opportunity for Black Americans, held 60 years ago on August 28, 1963. In addition to his social justice work, Rustin was a singer, musician, and art collector.”

Thursdays at the Nasher

Thursdays at the Nasher is a series of free evening programs and events that showcase artists, scholars and other creatives. Programs include smart-phone poetry, sketching in the galleries, live music, film screenings, cash bars and more. We invite visitors of all ages to connect with art and enjoy the galleries until 9 PM. Learn more.

Want more than great events and cocktails? Make an early reservation for dinner at the Nasher Museum Café.

Event Details

Date
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Time
6–7:30 PM
Categories
Tags
Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin, Lyle Ashton Harris: Our first and last love
Venue
The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
2001 Campus Drive
Durham, NC 27705 United States