March On Washington Lee Gardner III Race and Ethnicity

Background Information 1963 was one of the most racial and unrest civil rights demonstrations. Martin Luther King JR was arrested and jailed through protest he tried to give. Through his incarcerations he wrote the famous “Letter From Birmingham City Jail”. Which advocated against Civil Disobedience

March On Washington 1963 The march on Washington represented a collation of different civil rights organizations. These groups were fighting for their rights and the elimination of racial segregation in public schools, protection against demonstrators against police brutality, a public works program to provide jobs and a law prohibiting racial discrimination in public and private hearing.

Disturbing Photos

March on Washington Photos

Cont. There were about a quarter million people (quarter being white) estimated. That had marched from the Washington monument to the Lincoln memorial. This march was peaceful and was huge push and stand up for the black culture. No violence was tolerated in trying to get their point across This march, had tons of artist, singers, businessmen and famous civil right leaders in this march. Ex: John Lewis, Josephine baker, Rosa Parks, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr and Paul Newman

Cont. Through the march on Washington, at the Lincoln memorial MLK had gave one of his famous speeches “ I have a Dream”. Which noted off the “American Dream Speech”. One of his famous Quotes from this speech was “America….. Children will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”. Which he then followed with his Let Freedom Ring Speech.

MLK’s Final Statement This was Martin Luther's King to his final Statement for the March on Washington, touching and warming every soul that day in the nation. And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, 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 are free at last."

My Thoughts My thoughts of this speech was everything, because this speech, that march is a crucial point in why I am where I am today. That march opened up so many opportunities for blacks we weren’t seen as a scare race. Yea there were still problems we faced but we continued to overcome adversity like we were accustomed to. I'm glad Martin Luther King made this march because it not only brought blacks closer together but it also made us come closer to other races as well, gradually informing everyone we are all equal no matter what color you are. MLK will always be looked to as Great Leader and one of my Favorite Role Models!!!