Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Sexism in Civil Rights Movement

"Baker did encounter sexism in SCLC that mirrored Rustin's political tribulations as a gay man. SCLC ministers resisted her authority, while King disregarded Baker's input on substantive matters. According to Baker, SCLC was fast becoming a "cult of personality" devoted solely to the upkeep of King's celebrity status. When she rased this concern with King, he replied, "Well, I can't help what people do."

Another woman on SCLC executive committee, Septima Clarck, affirmed Baker's point of view: "Those men didn't have any faith in women, none whatsoever. They just thought that women were sex symbols and had no contribution to make."

-The Collected Writings of Bayard Rustin

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