"Rustin" is a biographical film released on Netflix on November 3, 2023, about the life of Bayard Rustin, a black civil rights activist. The film focuses on Rustin's life, especially his successful leadership of the 1963 March on Washington.

Bayard Rustin (played by Colman Domingo) was a man who had dedicated himself to the civil rights movement long before the 1960s. He had been openly gay since childhood and was involved in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. He was also actively involved in the black liberation movement, based on the communist ideology that was prevalent in the early 20th century.

These past activities led many of the leading figures in the black civil rights movement of the 1960s to distance themselves from him. It was difficult to fight racial discrimination, and it gave white supremacists a reason to attack. Therefore, instead of taking the lead in the 1960s civil rights movement, he worked as an organizer.

This film highlights not only Rustin's process of organizing the black civil rights movement but also the difficulties he faced due to his identity. It is particularly impressive how Martin Luther King (played by Ammel Amin) shows his support for Rustin in the process. Rustin is known to have empathized with King's peaceful approach to civil rights since the 1956 bus boycott.

The film depicts the preparation for the 1963 March on Washington with the most tension. He contacted black civil rights groups across the country, checked how many toilets and sandwiches were needed, and negotiated with the police to ensure a peaceful demonstration. His dedication made Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech possible. **

The film covered the life of a civil rights organizer who was not well known, so it seemed unlikely to be a big hit. However, the film was produced by former US President Barack Obama. After leaving office, Obama founded a film production company called Higher Ground Productions and signed a distribution deal with Netflix.

He is producing several films on topics he is interested in, delivering social messages. "American Factory", released in 2019, is a documentary about the American labor environment that has garnered a lot of attention.