10 Unsung Heroes Of History

The civil rights movement of the mid-20th century was a trying time for the west, as social inequalities, racial prejudices and deeply-rooted societal homophobia sparked a need for radical change.

The presence of key figures in the fight for equality was felt in all corners of the United States, and while Dr Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Malcolm X are hailed as great influencers of the the time, Pennsylvania native Bayard Rustin is so often overlooked.

Bayard Rustin's dedication to social change stretched to more than skin colour, as his commitment to LGBTQ rights was as ardent as his stance on racial justice. Rustin was an openly gay man, and though his sexuality would result in multiple arrests, he continued to push the boundaries to make homosexuality widely accepted.

At Dr Martin Luther King's side during the American civil rights movement, Rustin's immense perseverance and pursuit of justice is largely forgotten, as the spectacle of King's speeches and Malcolm X's somewhat militant approach consumes the limelight.

Bayard Rustin was an instrumental figure of the time, and proof that the quest for equal rights takes more than one man.