WHAT WAS THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON? The March on Washington was a protesting march in Washington D.C. It was the result of a series of Black Civil Rights demonstrations which portrayed the protesters ardent desire for equality.

WHERE AND WHEN DID IT HAPPEN? The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place in Washington, D.C. on August 28, It was the largest demonstration ever seen in the nation's capital, and one of the first to have extensive television coverage. It was attended by some 250,000 people, a quarter of these were white people

WHY DID THE M.O.W OCCUR? 1963 was noted for racial unrest and civil rights demonstrations. Nationwide outrage was sparked by media coverage of police actions in Birmingham, Alabama, where attack dogs and fire hoses were turned against protestors, many of whom were in their early teens or younger. So at the peak of the movement the March on Washington occurred because African Americans wanted equality in jobs and wanted true freedom like any other Americans as said in the constitution.

WHO DID IT INVOLVE? The “Big Six”…. James Farmer, of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE); Martin Luther King, Jnr, of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) John Lewis, of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) A. Philip Randolph, of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Roy Wilkins, of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Whitney Young. Jr. of the National Urban League And… AND…Over 200,000 American marchers, Black and White. Mainly college students and older.

WHY WAS IT AN IMPORTANT EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF BLACK CIVIL RIGHTS? It was the largest political rally in U.S history It was the height of the movement. Showed the unity and strength of those supporting the march. It helped push the civil rights bill through. It was an inspirational day in History James Baldwin wrote, "That day, for a moment, it almost seemed that we stood on a height, and could see our inheritance; perhaps we could make the kingdom real, perhaps the beloved community would not forever remain the dream one dreamed in agony.

HOW DOES IT RELATE TO THE POETRY OF MAYA ANGELOU? Still I rise: The History of ill treatment African Americans had endured and their ability to overcome such adversity is clearly portrayed in this poem. The Black Civil Rights Movement is an example of how they chose persist in “rising” above difficulty in gaining their civil rights before and during the civil rights movement. There is also the image of the demonstrations before the March on Washington where the non-violent protesters would often be beaten or thrown out of places which were segregated.e.g.sitins.“ You may trod me the very dirt”. Maya goes on to say “But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”Just like the persistence of the demonstrators There is also the allusion to Martin Luther Kings Speech “I have a dream” where Maya responds by saying “ I am the dream”.

HOW DOES IT RELATE TO THE POETRY OF MAYA ANGELOU? Equality: The poem gives the image of a strong militant people who are organised and unified, which was what the March on Washington was. “ Trim in rank and marking time” The repetition and declarative statement of “ Equality and I will be free” echo’s the March on Washington as the people marched together with chants such as “ Equality and I will be free” and signs with similar statements.