Quakers initially used the second person “Thee” as a rebellion against social and spiritual hierarchy. Over time it transformed into a term of endearment.

The name “Quaker” was given to us as an insult. Friends expressed our spiritual power so strongly we were physically moved. Today, we feel that anyone who speaks with conviction from a deeply inspired place is an honorary Quaker.

So the name THEE QUAKER PODCAST was chosen carefully. It both describes what we are making and also our approach to making it. Someday it may be your turn to sit across from us as we ask, “What canst thou say, thee Quaker?”

That’s Bayard Rustin. 

Raised by his Quaker grandmother, Rustin learned the values of Friends early in life. He embraced the testimonies of peace and equality and began standing up against racial discrimination as a young man.

He would continue this work for the rest of his life.

Rustin was integral in the American Civil Rights Movement. He trained youth in non-violence activism, was foundational in the formation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and was a close confidant of Martin Luther King, Jr.

He encouraged King to fully embrace non-violence and was the key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. The march paved the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. 

Despite his work and accomplishments, Rustin was marginalized in the movement and in history because he was openly gay. But we think his story is worth exploring.

We recognize that choosing a single person to be the face of our ensemble Quaker podcast is problematic. That’s why we’ll change the face every so often, in anticipation of upcoming stories.