Rustin

Movie: Rustin

Running Times: 1:48

Nominated for: Actor

How I watched: Netflix

When it had me: Planning Civil Rights actions

When it lost me: It didn't

What systems does it challenge: Racism, Homophobia

This film is the argument for intersectionalism. It's about Bayard Rustin, a good friend to Martin Luther King, Jr. and activist for civil rights. He had the idea for the March on Washington but got sidelined for being gay. White Supremacy, as a system, really wants to push us to tackle big problems one at a time. Then they ask all the oppressed people to compete with each other about who gets to go first and hopefully the in fighting will distract everyone from getting any work done. Rustin, played by Colman Domingo, kept himself in the fight as long as he could. I appreciated that the movie highlighted how the women of the movement repeatedly complained about being marginalized in the process; another layer of arguments for an intersectional approach.

I think Colman Domingo tends toward some real overacting at times but that could be because I first saw him on a bad zombie series. This role in Rustin feels made for him and he does a fantastic job. I love watching the planning of these Civil Rights moments; seeing how resourceful and tenacious these leaders were in the face of endless obstacles is inspiring. This was a really good, under-two-hour watch.