On Monday night, Netflix hosted a DC Special Screening of the RUSTIN in partnership with the HBCU First Look Film Festival at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama were in attendance, and introduced the film’s director, George C. Wolfe, who was also a producer for the film, along with the Obamas’ production company, Higher Ground Productions.
The movie chronicles the journey of Bayard Rustin, an African-American, openly gay civil rights leader, as he organized the 1963 March on Washington. Colman Domingo stars as Rustin, who not only must overcome challenges related to his racial identity and sexuality, but his relationships with key civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. (Aml Ameed), Roy Wilkins (Chris Rock), Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (Jeffrey Wright), and his complicated romantic interests.
Denise Robinson Simms, Associate Director of External Affairs at the African-American History and Culture museum opened the night with an address to the students in the audience. Students from DC and Maryland HBCUs Bowie State, Morgan State, and Howard University had all been invited to attend the event. Simms was followed by Lonnie G. Bunch III, current Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and first African-American to serve as head of the Smithsonian. Bunch introduced Michelle Obama, former First Lady, who acknowledged the civil rights leaders and organizers of the March on Washington who were in attendance, letting them know that they “are the giants whose shoulders the rest of us are standing on.” She then went on to explain why the film meant so much to her.
“We don’t know much about the folks who did the hard work. Who packed the lunches… sorted the accommodations… figured out where all those folks were going to go to the bathroom… the unsung organizers who willingly and freely devoted thousands of hours so that people from every background and every part of the country could come together to peacefully rally for justice and equality. Bayard Rustin was the driving force behind all of that.”
Looking out into the crowd of students, Michelle Obama then delivered a message of encouragement inspired by Rustin’s achievements despite his background and lack of recognition in history due to his sexuality. “As you watch this movie, I want you to let Bayard Rustin’s example give you the strength to silence those doubts… let his story remind you that no matter the complication… no matter the hardship… you can make history. Your story matters.”
Michelle Obama ended her remarks with an introduction to her husband, former President Barack Obama, which was met with a room full of applause and standing ovations. Barack Obama, who awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Rustin in 2013, emphasized the importance of the film in making sure that Rustin is included in the story of the Civil Rights Movement.
“For decades, Bayard was denied his rightful place in history – most of you probably didn’t read about him in elementary school, middle school or even high school. The main reason is back in the 1950s he was openly gay,” Barack Obama stated to the crowd of students. “Michelle’s and my hope is that, by telling Bayard’s story, more people will appreciate leaders like him who brought America closer to its highest ideals – even though they weren’t in the limelight.” After his remarks, both Wolfe and Domingo joined him on stage for a final introduction to the screening.
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 10: George C. Wolfe speaks onstage during the DC Special Screening with HBCU First Look Film Fest at the National Museum of African American History & Culture on November 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Shannon Finney/NETFLIX) (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images for Netflix)
After the screening, a Q&A session with Wolfe and Domingo was moderated by Pulitzer-Prize winning Associate Editor of the Washington Post and MSNBC anchor, Jonathan Capehart. During the Q&A, Capehart took the time to acknowledge Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who was both in attendance, and represented within the film, as well as Walter Naegle, Rustin’s surviving partner, who was also in the audience. Other attendees included producer Bruce Cohen, producer Tonia Davis, co-screenwriter Julian Breece, and activist Joyce Ladner.
During the Q&A, Capehart, Wolfe, and Domingo discussed why Rustin was so meaningful to them, and the months of preparation that went into making the movie what it is. In response to Capehart asking why it was so important to make Rustin, Wolfe responded, “There’s something just so astonishing about the veracity of his commitment and how much he was able to perpetually challenge over and over that which was unjust, that which was dumb, and that which was not American.”
The three discussed how Rustin had been erased from history, and how Wolfe was amazed when he began to learn more about him. “If I’ve discovered him, everybody should have the option to,” Wolfe told the crowd.
When discussing the effort that Domingo put into preparing for his portrayal as Rustin, he said that he, “wanted to make him a whole, interesting, creative, messy human being.” Domingo was intent on making sure that viewers do not walk away simply feeling like they’d watched a wonderful story. Instead, Domingo hopes that it motivates people to act, telling attendees, “We hope it inspires you.”
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 10: Colman Domingo attends the DC Special Screening with HBCU First Look Film Fest at the National Museum of African American History & Culture on November 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Shannon Finney/NETFLIX) (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images for Netflix)
Rustin will be released globally on Netflix on Friday, November 17th, 2023 and is showing now in select theaters. You can follow the movie on Twitter @RustinMovie and Instagram @rustinmovie.
