Sings Spirituals, Work & Freedom Songs

A live concert featuring music from the award-winning documentary: Brother Outsider • The Life Of Bayard Rustin “On February 15, 1973, Diane and Richard Ravitch hosted a benefit concert for the Young People's Socialist League in their New York City living room. The featured performer was Bayard Rustin, civil rights activist, master organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and leader of Social Democrats U.S.A. Accompanied on piano by Jonathan Brice, whom he had met when both appeared in the 1940 Broadway production of John Henry, starring Paul Robeson, Rustin performed spirituals, work, and freedom songs. His distinctive tenor was familiar to many in the room, who had marched, sat-in or walked picket lines with him. Introducing the songs, Rustin wove a passionate narrative that guided his listeners through the African-American struggle from slavery, to reconstruction and freedom.”