Rustin
Overview
Rustin is a 2023 biographical drama film directed by George C. Wolfe, starring Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin, a gay, Black civil rights activist who was a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. The film is set in 1963, leading up to the March. Rustin is a brilliant, charismatic, and passionate organizer, but he is also a controversial figure. He is gay, and he is a former member of the Communist Party. Many civil rights leaders, including the NAACP's Roy Wilkins (Glynn Turman), want to sideline him. He is opposed by Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (Jeffrey Wright), a powerful congressman who threatens to out him. The film follows Rustin as he overcomes these obstacles and organizes the March, which is one of the largest and most successful protests in American history. The film is a celebration of Rustin's legacy, and a reminder of the often-overlooked contributions of LGBTQ+ activists to the civil rights movement. Colman Domingo gives a powerful, charismatic performance, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Rustin was nominated for two Oscars, including Best Actor.
