The Promises of Lincoln
| “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
–The Gettysburg Address |
The Declaration of Independence declared that all men are created equal, but many southern cities were still segregated in the 1960s. Black children could not go to the best schools, and black workers had difficulty getting good jobs. Dr. King and other leaders decided to join together to plan a march on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. They demanded laws to end employment discrimination, and laws to guarantee civil rights including access to all public buildings, good housing and education, and the right to vote.
Think about it:
- Dr. King hoped that everyone in the world would want to join his fight for equality if he could gather thousands of people to march in Washington, DC. What would you most want to march for? What do you care most about? What do you want the whole world to know about?
———————————————————————————————————————
The Plan of the March
The organizing manuals and newsletters from the March on Washington demanded works training programs and laws to prohibit employment discrimination. They also demanded laws to guarantee civil rights including access to all public buildings, good housing and education, and the right to vote. The organizers of the march wanted President Kennedy and his Congress to act without delay to pass the civil rights laws. They also wanted the world to know that this was only the beginning, and they would continue to protest until they achieved their goal of complete racial equality all over America.
Think about it:
- The organizers of the March on Washington listed as their demands: “access to all public accommodations, decent housing, adequate and integrated education, the right to vote.” [1] Do you think these are things that all Americans should have? What things do you think are most important for a free and equal society?
———————————————————————————————————————
Dr. King and Others March On
More than 200,000 people gathered at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC and demonstrated their support for civil rights and equality for all. In the shadow of President Lincoln’s memorial, Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. He spoke about the promises of democracy in America by quoting some of the country’s greatest historical documents. He invoked the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Gettysburg Address in his speech, and urged America to reject inequality and remember the promises of the founding fathers.[2]
Think about it:
- In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. King said,
“When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Do you agree with Dr. King that segregation breaks the promises made by America’s forefathers?
———————————————————————————————————————
The Results of the March
The police officers, citizens, and politicians in Washington, DC were greatly impressed by the march, because everyone remained orderly and peaceful even while they were cheering to the speeches and singing along to songs about freedom.[3] After the march, Dr. King and other civil rights leaders met with President Kennedy, and the president promised to support the civil rights bill.
Think about it:
- Ralph Abernathy, Dr. King’s chief aide, said,
“The March on Washington established visibility in this nation. It showed the struggle was nearing a close, that people were coming together, that all the organizations could stand together. It made it clear that we did not have to use violence to achieve the goals which we were seeking.”
Why do you think nonviolence worked better to achieve real social and legal change than violent means would have? Have you ever lost your temper and gave in to the urge to be violent or say hurtful words? What are some ways you could act with love and respect if a similar situation occurs again? Do you think this would be a better way to achieve your goals?
[1] “Organizing Manual No. 2,” Final Plans for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
[2] James Reston, “ ‘I Have a Dream…’ Peroration by Dr. King Sums Up A Day the Capital Will Remember,” New York Times, August 29, 1963.
[3] Robert E. Baker, “200,000 Jam Mall in Mammoth Rally In Solemn, Orderly Plea for Equality,” The Washington Post, Aug 29, 1963.
