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Official Program for the March on Washington (1963)

Date: August 28, 1963

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General Summary

The civil rights movement in the United States during the late 1950s and 1960s was the political, legal, and social struggle to gain full citizenship rights for black Americans and to achieve racial equality. Individuals and civil rights organizations challenged segregation and discrimination using a variety of activities, including protest marches, boycotts, and refusal to abide by segregation laws.On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 demonstrators descended upon the nation’s capital to participate in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Not only was it the largest demonstration for human rights in United States history, but it also occasioned a rare display of unity among the various civil rights organizations. The event began with a rally at the Washington Monument featuring several celebrities and musicians. Participants then marched the mile-long National Mall to the Memorial. The three-hour long program at the Lincoln Memorial included speeches from prominent civil rights and religious leaders. The day ended with a meeting between the march leaders and President John F. Kennedy at the White House.The idea for the 1963 March on Washington was envisioned by A. Philip Randolph, a long-time civil rights activist dedicated to improving the economic condition of black Americans. When Randolph first proposed the march in late 1962, he received little response from other civil rights leaders. He knew that cooperation would be difficult because each had his own agenda for the civil rights movement, and the leaders competed for funding and press coverage. Success of the March on Washington would depend on the involvement of the so-called Big Six Randolph and the heads of the five major civil rights organizations: Roy Wilkins of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Whitney Young, Jr., of the National Urban League; Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); James Farmer of the Conference of Racial Equality (CORE); and John Lewis of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).The details and organization of the march were handled by Bayard Rustin, Randolph’s trusted associate. Rustin was a veteran activist with extensive experience in putting together mass protest. With only two months to plan, Rustin established his headquarters in Harlem, NY, with a smaller office in Washington. He and his core staff of 200 volunteers quickly put together the largest peaceful demonstration in U.S. history.To listen to Martin Luther King’s I have a Dream speech visit the University of California at Berkeley’s Speech Archives.

Biographical Summary

National History Day, National Archives and Records Administration, and USA Freedom Corps developed the 100 Milestone Documents of U.S. History project as presented at http://www.OurDocuments.gov. This replication of the documents of that site grants users full-search access to this essential collection.

Official Program for the March on Washington (1963)

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MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM

AUGUST 28, 1963

LINCOLN MEMORIAL PROGRAM

1. The National Anthem

Led by Marian Anderson.

2. Invocation

The Very Rev. Patrick O’Boyle, Archbishop of Washington.

3. Opening Remarks

A. Philip Randolph, Director March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

4. Remarks

Dr. Eugene Carson Blake, Stated Clerk, United Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A.; Vice Chairman, Commission on Race Relations of the National Council of Churches of Christ in America.

5. Tribute to Negro Women Fighters for Freedom

Daisy Bates

Diane Nash Bevel

Mrs. Medgar Evers

Mrs. Herbert Lee

Rosa Parks

Gloria Richardson

Mrs. Medgar Evers

6. Remarks

John Lewis, National Chairman, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

7. Remarks

Walter Reuther, President, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, AFL-CIO; Chairman, Industrial Union Department, AFL-CIO.

8. Remarks

James Farmer, National Director, Congress of Racial Equality.

9. Selection

Eva Jessye Choir

10. Prayer

Rabbi Uri Miller, President Synagogue Council of America.

11. Remarks

Whitney M. Young, Jr., Executive Director, National Urban League.

12. Remarks

Matthew Ahmann, Executive Director, National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice.

13. Remarks

Roy Wilkins, Executive Secretary, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

14. Selection

Miss Mahalia Jackson

15. Remarks

Rabbi Joachim Prinz, President American Jewish Congress.

16. Remarks

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President, Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

17. The Pledge

A. Philip Randolph

18. Benediction

Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, President, Morehouse College.

"WE SHALL OVERCOME"

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Civil Rights Movement

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Chicago: Official Program for the March on Washington (1963) in March on Washington (Program), 08/28/1963; Bayard Rustin Papers; John F. Kennedy Library; National Archives and Records Administration. Original Sources, accessed December 4, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=B8XGYJY8SAVB7W1.

MLA: . Official Program for the March on Washington (1963), in March on Washington (Program), 08/28/1963; Bayard Rustin Papers; John F. Kennedy Library; National Archives and Records Administration., Original Sources. 4 Dec. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=B8XGYJY8SAVB7W1.

Harvard: , Official Program for the March on Washington (1963). cited in , March on Washington (Program), 08/28/1963; Bayard Rustin Papers; John F. Kennedy Library; National Archives and Records Administration.. Original Sources, retrieved 4 December 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=B8XGYJY8SAVB7W1.