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BROTHER OUTSIDER: A COLORFUL IRONY
Marcus Lee
Contributing Writer
marcusalee@ live .com
The fears of a fearless man must be the focus of any
society hoping to liberate its people. Unfortunately, here at
Morehouse College, those fears are disregarded in an effort
to hold the fearless man in unquestioned reverence for his
greatness.
Men of Morehouse, instead of disregarding these fears
so that we may emulate his shortcomings, let us engage the
fears of this fearless man head on so that we may liberate our
brothers and surpass his legacy in the spirit of liberty. Let us
emerge triumphant over these fears after this necessary en
gagement. Let us bring into our focus Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King Ir.’s relationship with Bayard Rustin in order to reveal
and analyze Dr. King’s fears so that history will not continue
to repeat itself.
Bayard Rustin was the greatest community organizer
of the 20th century. His accomplishments ranged from the
freedom rides of the 1940’s to the March on Washington of
1963. From racial policies to sexual politics, Rustin tackled
each issue with an equal amount of passion in an effort to get
society closer to human equality.
In addition to his great work as a social justice activ
ist, he passively fought for liberation by openly and affir
matively identifying with the social categories and political
affiliations associated with his name (i.e. black, gay, Socialist,
etc.).
King and Rustin first crossed paths when he helped
to persuade King to adopt policies of nonviolence. From that
night on, Rustin helped to mentor young Martin through
his journey toward liberty. This friendship, founded on
social justice, was transformed into a brotherhood based
on cooperation and support. However, this brotherhood
soon reached a break, as explained in the documentary film
“Brother Outsider” and in David Garrow’s biography of Rus
tin, “Bearing the Cross.”
Under pressure from the Democratic Party, Rep.
Adam Clayton Powell ]r., the powerful Congressman from
Harlem, was determined to break up the King-Rustin rela
tionship. He accomplished this by sending a telegram to King
that informed him that if he did not call off the protests that
he was planning, he’d tell the press that King and Rustin were
having a same-sex affair with one another. The fear of the
fearless man reared its ugly head.
King was terrified by the prospect of being called a
homosexual. Therefore, he distanced himself from Rustin
subtly, and eventually, the friendship between Rustin and
King was severed. After all of the organizational work Rus
tin did for the March on Washington, SNCC, and the SCLC,
he was pushed to the background of history and a veil was
dropped over his accomplishments. His brother happily
received the benefits of his hard work, but rejected him from
the picture when the rainbow entered the frame.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
The relationship between homosexual and heterosex
ual brothers on this campus is ironically analogous to that of
King and Rustin. Every inch of Morehouse’s unique fabric has
been woven in large part by gay brothers on campus. From
the SGA, to CASA, to RHA, to the OHRL staff, to some of
the top scholars of every department on campus, to pageants,
to homecoming and everywhere in between, gay brothers are
present in great numbers doing great work. The work they
do helps Morehouse to maintain its prominence in the global
village.
But, what do gay brothers receive in return? A dress
code policy which undermines people of gender noncon
forming communities, hetero-normative language used at
every NSO and at just about every Crown Forum and every
program held on campus. In addition, there’s our “equal
opportunity” statement that does not include sexual orienta
tion, Board of Trustee member Dan T. Cathy who aims to
take rights away from gay people, and a great deal of apathy
toward, and in some cases advocacy for, heterosexism in its
different forms by students and faculty alike.
As a student leader, my sexuality is regarded as “cool”
and “not a problem” until I ask to be treated equally or re
spectfully; or until I ask my superiors to stop trying to take
my rights away (or prevent me from having rights at all!); or
until I wear a shirt that says “Legalize Gay” on campus. Then,
I’m “too sensitive,” I’m “out of line,” I’m “forgetting what
[people] are doing for me,” I’m “throwing [my] sexuality in
[your] face,” and everything in between. Heterosexual broth
ers on campus happily receive the benefits of our hard work;
but we are rejected from the picture when the rainbow enters
the frame.
Men of Morehouse, I charge you to strengthen the
bonds within this fraternity of scholars such that a harmless
arch comprised of different colors does not cause us to dis
band. Let us recognize King’s mistakes and reconfigure our
relationships accordingly. Let us reunite King and Rustin in
the spirit of authentic brotherhood.
FORTY
QUESTIONS
1) Did you really think they got rid of us?
2) Weren't they sadly mistaken?
3) Aren't you happy we FINALLY beat How Hard University?
4) Anyone wonder why it took a woman to do it for us?
5) Maybe she should have been on the field in DC?
6) Has anyone else noticed that those Do Boys have
produced the last three goddesses of RHA?
7) Does that make their hall experts at producing
QUEENS?
8) Is their new queen an environmentalist, or is she
just a fAn of recycling?
9) Will this kin finally get the crown? Or will she
settle for IVY?
10) How much longer until they Pick their new girls
anyway?
11) Is removing the extensions a part of the
application process?
12) Speaking of applications, did you turn yours in
on time?
13) Or did the A train RHOll along without you?
14) Is friendship still essential to the soul?
15) Is that why they turned king chapel into a DAWG
pound?
16) If you lay with DAWGS, do you really get up with
a crown?
17) Or purple and gold blisters?
18) Did they intend to turn Sale Hall into Club Libra?
19) Since when has arson been considered a talent?
20) Speaking of fired, did you attend Opening
Convocation?
21) Wasn't it ironic that his best one was his last one?
Loretta D. Nide
The Third Disciple
comingforthecrown@itsaseriousmatter.com
22) Did he intend to save the best for last?
23) Perhaps that's a manly deed?
24) Have you heard anything about our new president?
25) Is it true that only one of the three finalists is a
Morehouse Man?
26) Is the last one white or just high yella?
27) Did you know about the "money talks, boot walks"
policy?
28) Can I get a receipt with that?
29) Have you been to the archives lately?
30) Or did the rats get there first?
31) Or did he Skip out with that as well?
32) Debit or Credit please?
33) Is it true there was a homeless man in their
showers?
34) Did you know the name changed from Ladies Last
Choice to Homeless First Choice?
35) Have you heard our homecoming theme?
36) Was it dope enough?
37) What about the neo soul concert artist?
38) Did they lose their PULSE when making that decision?
39) Or will they bring the CASA down again?
40) Are you ready to TURN UP?
Got questions ? Submit them
anonymously on themaroontiger.com or
mtiger20questions@gmail.com
WWW.THEMAROONTIGER.COM
Recycle The Maroon Tiger
OCTOBER 3- 10, 2012