William Worthy's Passport: Travel Restrictions and the Cold War Struggle for Civil and Human Rights

Citation and Publication Details

  • Article Title: William Worthy’s Passport: Travel Restrictions and the Cold War Struggle for Civil and Human Rights

  • Author: H. Timothy Lovelace Jr.

  • Published in: The Journal of American History, a prominent academic journal covering American history scholarship.

  • Date: June 2016

  • Volume: 103

  • Issue: 1

  • Pages: 107-131

  • Publisher: Oxford University Press on behalf of Organization of American Historians

  • Stable URL: JSTOR Link

Introduction

  • The article meticulously details the case of William Worthy, an African American journalist for the Baltimore Afro-American, who deliberately challenged restrictive travel policies imposed by the U.S. government during the heightened tensions of the Cold War. His actions, particularly his unauthorized trip to Cuba, ignited a crucial national debate about the constitutional right to travel, the limits of governmental power, and the intersection of civil rights with international relations. The article underscores how Worthy's defiance profoundly impacted the discourse surrounding civil liberties and international law during a period when Cold War ideology often superseded individual freedoms.

The Indictment of William Worthy

  • Date of Indictment: April 24, 1962, more than six months after his return from Cuba.

  • **Charges