Lawrence Thomas Guyot Jr. (1939–2012), known simply as “Guyot” (pronounced ghee-aught), was a pivotal yet underrecognized figure in the civil rights movement. As a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) field secretary in the 1960s, he battled southern poverty and racism, championing voting rights for Black Mississippians. His leadership in the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) highlighted tensions between the MFDP’s electoral goals and SNCC’s more radical stance. Guyot later moved into Washington, DC, politics, working alongside leaders like Marion Barry, shifting from a rural civil rights organizer to an urban political strategist.
Chris Danielson’s nuanced portrayal of Guyot offers a fresh perspective on the civil rights movement. Through Guyot’s activism, Brother Outsider, Brother Insider invites a reassessment of the era and the individuals who shaped it.