From Protest To Politics - A Conversation about Bayard Rustin w/ John D'Emilio

From Protest To Politics - A Conversation about Bayard Rustin w/ John D'Emilio

Author: DSA Religion and Socialism Commission November 18, 2020 Duration: 42:52
John D'Emilio joins "Heart of a Heartless World" to discuss the history of Bayard Rustin, a Quaker and democratic socialist who introduced nonviolent tactics to the civil rights movement and organized the March on Washington. After years of organizing protests, Rustin argued after Lyndon B. Johnson's election that the left needed to move "from protest to politics" and engage directly with the political system while building broad-based coalitions. In this episode John D'Emilio charts the similarities between Rustin's engagement with LBJ's administration and the left's challenge with an incoming Biden administration. John D’Emilio is a pioneer in the field of gay and lesbian studies and is professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he taught in the Gender and Women’s Studies Program and the Department of History. He is currently president of the board of the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, a Chicago community-based LGBTQ history archives and cultural center. Resources: John D'Emilio, Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin (2003): https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/L/bo3644370.html Interview with John D'Emilio with Meagan Day, "Capitalism made gay identity possible. Now we must destroy capitalism." (2020): https://jacobinmag.com/2020/08/gay-identity-capitalism-lgbt John D'Emilio, "Capitalism and Gay Identity" (1983): https://sites.middlebury.edu/sexandsociety/files/2015/01/DEmilio-Capitalism-and-Gay-Identity.pdf John D'Emilio, Queer Legacies: Stories from Chicago's LGBTQ Archives, (2020): https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/Q/bo44312771.html

The Religious Socialism Podcast, presented by the DSA Religion and Socialism Commission, explores the often-overlooked intersections of faith, ethics, and leftist political economy. This isn't a lecture series but a series of conversations, interviews, and reflections that delve into the practical and theological questions of building a more just world. You'll hear from organizers, theologians, scholars, and community members who are actively working within their traditions to challenge systems of oppression and imagine collective liberation. Discussions might range from the scriptural foundations for economic democracy to the on-the-ground experiences of faith-based mutual aid projects, all grounded in a socialist framework. The podcast serves as a forum for those who find their spiritual convictions compelling them toward radical solidarity, offering both analysis and encouragement for the long-term work of social transformation. It’s a space where the moral imperatives of religion meet the material demands of socialism, creating a rich dialogue for anyone curious about this dynamic and necessary synthesis. Tune in for thoughtful, earnest episodes that refuse to separate the inner life of spirit from the outer work of building a better society for all.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Religious Socialism Podcast
Podcast Episodes