50 Years Since the March on Washington

Nation Remembers Moment in History

Story by Saafia Masoom

  “The greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation” was how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., described the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during his “I Have a Dream” speech. It was August 28, 1963, and the Civil Rights Movement icon was only one speaker on a program, ranging from performances by Bob Dylan and Harry Belafonte to speeches by five other “Big Six,” civil rights organization leaders.

  This summer commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the day when nearly 250,000 demonstrators gathered in our nation’s capital to demand legislation on civil rights, minimum wages of $2 an hour, an end to segregation in public schools, and nondiscrimination for hiring, among other things.  

  As the veteran marchers led the 1.6 mile route past special rally spots such as the Department of Justice on August 28th this summer, discussion continued over whether we have yet to achieve Dr. King’s dream. Also a point of conversation throughout the day was our nation’s unemployment rate, due to the fact that this march was originally for jobs as well as equality.

  A packed agenda featured speeches from Oprah Winfrey, former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, various members of Congress, and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, and performances by Mindless Behavior and LeAnn Rimes. The program was crowned by President Obama’s address to the thousands gathered before the very spot where Dr. King stood facing the National Mall. Mr. Obama spoke on progress since 1963 stating, “To dismiss that little has changed dishonors the courage and sacrifice for those who paid the price for freedom.”

  Whether the fight for freedom, jobs, and all that we hold dearly is over or still continues to this day, we stand in a remarkably different place from fifty years ago. From a day where one man in particular opened the door for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to an early morning lighting of the Washington Monument beginning a celebration, we are left to wonder what will go down in history next. But, we do know one thing that Rep. John Lewis reminded us when he spoke for a second time in Washington, “The country is a different country, and we’re better people.”