BREAKING BARRIERS IN HISTORY- Interview with Walter Naegle
Walter Naegle was Bayard Rustin's partner and we facebook messages him and then conducted an interview over email with him. He was very friendly and very helpful in our research. We are so grateful for the time he took to email with us and he inhanced our presentation. Thank you Mr. Naegle!
1. The LGBTQ community has grown so much and accomplished so much, how do you view today's LGBTQ society and if Bayard was alive right now what do you think he would say?
Walter: I think there has been tremendous progress made in the last 30 years. It is good that people can be open about who they are and work towards fulfilling their full potential, without having to hide their sexual identity. I do worry that the progress that has been made is currently being threatened by this administration. Bayard would be delighted and would urge people to keep on fighting to secure rights for all.
2. Did you ever help Bayard with some of his civil right movements, and are you happy with the black rights now a days?
Walter: I worked with Bayard during the last 10 years of his life, so it was mostly on his international human rights/refugee work. He did remain involved in the Black struggle, but it was going at a different pace in the 1960s. I think the Black community has made progress, but again, there are forces trying to turn back the clock. We need to focus on voting rights/laws, getting out the vote, and working to end poverty in all communities.
3. Bayard accomplished so much in his life, if Bayard were, alive, do you think there's anything he would want to change/accomplish?
Walter: Oh yes. He would be working for more economic equality, ending poverty, and securing adequate health care, housing, and education for all.
Impact