"GREATEST DEMONSTRATION IN CITY'S HISTORY"

MARCH ON WASHINGTON DRAWS 200,000 FROM 'MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY'

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On August 28, 1963, "men and women from many parts of the country gathered for the greatest demonstration in the city's history."

The March on Washington* began at the Washington Monument grounds and moved toward the Lincoln Memorial where two hours of speeches were given.

Police estimated the crowd, according to The Evening Star, at between 175,000 and 200,000. 

Heading the march was the leader A. Philip Randolph**.  Marchers chanted "Freedom, Freedom, Freedom."

JFK+50 NOTE

President Kennedy said, 

"All of our citizens are entitled to a full membership in the national community.  The gains of 1963 will never be reversed."  

JFK welcomed the leaders of the march to The White House & said to them, "I have a dream."

*March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom, August 28, 1963 was held to advance the civil & economic rights of African-Americans.  The most notable of the speeches given at the Lincoln Memorial was that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. titled "I Have a Dream".

**Asa Philip Randolph (1889-1979) was born in Crescent City, Florida & educated at City College of New York.  APR became a railwayman, trade unionist & civil rights activist.   

SOURCES

"Eager, Orderly Marchers Join Demonstration," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Rights Marchers Top 175,000," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Civil Rights Leaders of March on Washington

Constitution Avenue

Washington, D.C.

August 28 1963

Photo by Rowland Scheiman

USNA

"THAT'S A TERRIFIC SPEECH. HE'S DAMN GOOD!"

DR. KING DELIVERS RINGING SPEECH AT WASHINGTON MARCH

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On August 28, 1963, the most famous speech of the Civil Rights Movement was delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. King's speech was the highlight of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom attended by a quarter of a million people and watched by millions more on television.While there were many speakers at the event, it was Dr. King's speech that would resonate throughout the land.

Dr. King said...

"I still have a dream.  It is a dream that is deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal'". 

After the event, civil rights leaders, including Dr. King, Roy Wilkins,  Whitney Young, Jr., John Lewis  and A. Philip Randolph, met with President John F. Kennedy at the White House.  John Lewis said that the President greeted each of them at the door of the Oval Office and congratulated them with the words, "You did a great job."

The March on Washington was the brainchild of A. Philip Randolph who had attempted to lead a march in 1941 which never materialized but resulted in FDR's executive order prohibiting discrimination in munition plants.

Mr. Randolph, who became the Director of the March on Washington, had been counseling Dr. King to hold a march in the Nation's Capital in 1963.
JFK's speech on civil rights in June, along with his submission of a civil rights bill, gave a strong boost to Randolph's idea.

JFK had been concerned that the March on Washington would turn violent and hurt chances for the passage of his civil rights legislation.  When the day ended with no violence, the President was relieved and pleased.  He said privately earlier in the day that he wished he could be "out there" with the marchers.

Thurston Clarke says that after JFK watched Dr. King's speech, he said...

"That's a terrific speech.   He's damn good."

MLK, Jr. Memorial

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2011)

MLK, Jr. Memorial

Washington, D.C.

Photo by John White (2011)

YOU DID A GREAT JOB!

MARCH FOR JOBS & FREEDOM

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On August 28, 1963 the largest demonstration for civil rights in the history of the United States of America, officially known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom,  was held here in the Nation's Capital.

The "March on Washington," as it came to be known, was organized by Bayard Rustin* and directed by A. Philip Randolph**.   President John F. Kennedy's speech on civil rights in June, along with his submission of a civil rights bill, gave a strong boost to Randolph's idea for the event.

Speeches were made by notable civil rights activists including Josephine Baker and John Lewis.  There were musical performances by Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson and Peter, Paul and Mary. Entertainers Harry Belafonte, Marlon Brando and Charlton Heston also attended.

The most famous of the orations on that day, of course, was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

JFK had been concerned that the march would turn violent and hurt chances for the passage of his civil rights legislation.  When the day ended with no violence, the President was relieved and pleased.

After the march, Dr. King, Roy Wilkins,  Whitney Young, Jr., John Lewis  and A. Philip Randolph, met with President Kennedy at the White House.   Mr. Lewis said that the President greeted each of them at the door of the Oval Office and congratulated them with the words, "You did a great job."

*Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) was born in West Chester, PA & attended Wilberforce University, Cheyney State Teachers College & City College of NY.

In addition to his leadership in the civil rights movement, BR was an accomplished tenor vocalist.

**A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979) was born in Crescent City, FL & attended City College of NY.  APR founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925.  He was recognized for his leadership in the civil rights movement by presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom by LBJ in 1964.

SOURCES

"March on Washington," www.history.com/

"March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom (August 28, 1963)," www.blackpast.org/

"We Shall Overcome: The History of the Civil Rights Movement As It Happened," by Herb Boyd, Sourcebooks, Inc. Naperville, Illinois, 2004.

Leaders of the March

US Information Agency

NARA Photo

LARGEST CIVIL RIGHTS DEMONSTRATION IN US HISTORY

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2052

MARCH ON WASHINGTON PLUS 53

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) It was the largest demonstration for civil rights in the history of the United States of America.  It was officially known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.  It is commonly remembered simply as the March on Washington.  It happened fifty-three years ago today, August 28, 1963.

The march, attended by a quarter of a million people, was the brainchild of A. Philip Randolph who had attempted to lead a march in 1941 which never materialized but resulted in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's executive order prohibiting discrimination in munition plants.

Mr. Randolph, who became the director of the March on Washington, had been counseling Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to hold a march on the Nation's Capital in 1963.  President John F. Kennedy's speech on civil rights in June along with his submission of a civil rights bill, gave a strong boost to Randolph's idea.

The marchers carried signs in blue or red ink which read...

"We March for Higher Minimum Wages Coverage For All Workers Now"
"We March for Jobs For All Now"
"We Demand Equal Rights"
"Civil Rights Plus Full Employment Equals Freedom"

Speeches were made by notable civil rights activists including Josephine Baker and John Lewis.  There were musical performances by Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson and Peter, Paul and Mary. Entertainers Harry Belafonte, Marlon Brando and Charlton Heston also attended.

The climax of the march came with the ringing words of Dr. King who said...

"I still have a dream.  It is a dream that is deeply rooted in the American dream.   I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal'.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

When we allow freedom (to) ring....we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old negro spiritual, 'Free at last,  free at last, thank God Almighty, we're free at last.'"

President Kennedy had been concerned that the march would turn violent and hurt chances for the passage of his civil rights legislation.  When the day ended with no violence, the President was relieved and pleased.

After the march, Dr. King, Roy Wilkins,  Whitney Young, Jr., John Lewis  and A. Philip Randolph, met with President Kennedy at the White House.   Mr. Lewis said that the President greeted each of them at the door of the Oval Office and congratulated them with the words, "You did a great job."

BlackPast.org says the March on Washington is "partly credited with winning the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

SOURCES

"March on Washington," www.history.com/

"March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom (August 28, 1963)," www.blackpast.org/

"We Shall Overcome: The History of the Civil Rights Movement As It Happened," by Herb Boyd, Sourcebooks, Inc. Naperville, Illinois, 2004.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Washington, D.C.

August 28, 1963

MARCH ON WASHINGTON HELD 50 YEARS AGO TODAY

August 28, 2013

MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM HELD 50 YEARS  AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom*, attended by a quarter of a million people, was held here in the Nation's Capital 50 years ago today, Wednesday, August 28, 1963.

*Most people know the event simply as "The March on Washington," and associate it with civil rights, but it was also the desire of organizers to emphasize the wide economic disparity between the races.

In 1963, the unemployment rate for blacks was twice that of whites in the United States and the income of white families was almost twice that of black families.

Bayard Rustin and Cleveland Robinson
      March on Washington organizers
                        August 7, 1963
            Library of Congress Photo

A flyer for the March stated...

"America faces a crisis.  Millions of Negroes are denied freedom.  Millions of citizens, black and white are unemployed.  We demand meaningful Civil Rights Laws, full and fair employment, (a) massive Federal Works Program, decent housing, the right to vote (and) adequate integrated education."

The highlight of the day came when the leader of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed the audience at the Lincoln Memorial.

Dr. King, who had only finished writing the speech that morning,  said:

"I still have a dream.  It is a dream that is deeply rooted in the American dream.

 I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal'.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Dr. King concluded his remarks with these resonating words...

"When we allow freedom (to) ring....we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old negro spiritual, 'Free at last,  free at last, thank God Almighty, we're free at last.'"

After the event, civil rights leaders, including Dr. King of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC),  Roy Wilkins, of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP),  Whitney Young, Jr. of the National Urban League, John Lewis of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)  and A. Philip Randolph, founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, met with President John F. Kennedy at the White House.

John Lewis said that the President greeted each of them at the door of the Oval Office and congratulated them with the words, "You did a great job."

The March on Washington was the brainchild of A. Philip Randolph who had attempted to lead a march in 1941 which never materialized but resulted in FDR's executive order prohibiting discrimination in munition plants.

Mr. Randolph, who became the Director of the March on Washington, had been counseling Dr. King to hold a march in the Nation's Capital in 1963.

President Kennedy's speech on civil rights in June along with his submission of a civil rights bill, gave a strong boost to Randolph's idea.*

*JFK had been concerned that the March on Washington would turn violent and hurt chances for the passage of his civil rights legislation.  When the day ended with no violence, the President was relieved and pleased.

He reportedly told a black doorman at the White House earlier in the day that he wished he could be "out there" with the marchers.

Thurston Clarke says that after JFK watched Dr. King's speech, he said: "That's a terrific speech.   He's damn good."

                   Dr. Martin Luther King
                         Speaking at the
                       Lincoln Memorial
                        Washington, D.C.
                         August 28, 1963

It was A. Philip Randolph's decision to appoint Bayard Rustin as his deputy.  It would be Rustin's task to make "all the pieces fit smoothly together."

Those pieces included publicity to get marchers to come to Washington, transportation, order, sanitation, bus parking, scheduling and district regulations.

Among the 250,000 marchers in Washington 50 years ago were celebrities Jackie Robinson, James Baldwin, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Diahann Carroll, Burt Lancaster and Charlton Heston.

And there were singers:  Marian Anderson, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson, Odetta and Peter, Paul and Mary.

When the March on Washington ended, the White House issued this statement:

"We have witnessed today...tens of thousands of Americans...exercising their right to assemble peaceably and direct the widest possible attention to a great national issue.

Efforts to secure equal treatment and equal opportunity for all without regard to race, color, creed or nationality are neither novel nor difficult to understand.

What is different today is the intensified and widespread public awareness of the need to move forward in achieving these objectives."

SOURCE

"We Shall Overcome: The History of the Civil Rights Movement As It Happened," by Herb Boyd, Sourcebooks, Inc. Naperville, Illinois, 2004.

MAHALIA JACKSON'S WORDS TO MLK: "TELL THEM ABOUT THE DREAM!"

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked the Queen of Gospel Music to sing "I've Been Buked and I've Been Scorned" before he spoke at the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial.

Before she sang, however, Mahalia Jackson said to Dr. King: "Martin, tell them about the dream".

Dr. King had included the "I have a dream" theme in previous speeches and sermons but it was not included in the text of his March on Washington address. 

He followed Mahalia's advice, however, adding "I have a dream"  to his closing his remarks.

                   Mahalia Jackson
             Queen of Gospel Music
Photo by Carl Van Vechten (1962)

                       Lincoln Memorial
              Photo by John White (2011)


OBAMA TO SPEAK AT LET FREEDOM RING CEREMONY COMMEMORATING THE MARCH

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Barack Obama will speak today at the "LET FREEDOM RING" ceremony on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in commemoration of the March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom held 50 years ago today, August 28, 1963.

    Spot Where MLK Gave "The Speech"
                    Lincoln Memorial
           Photo by John White (2011)

The ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. (EDT), the same time when MLK gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.

SOURCE

www.iipdigital.usembassy.gov/