In addition to segregation in restaurants, lunch counters, and buses, there was a deeper problem in segregation: black workers often had difficulty getting good jobs. In 1941 a group called the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters planned a march on Washington in protest, but President Roosevelt passed a law that desegregated the defense industries, and the march was cancelled. However, in 1963, blacks still had a great deal of trouble getting good jobs. There was high unemployment in the black population, and there was still no law guaranteeing the civil rights of all Americans.
The founder of the Brotherhood, A. Philip Randolph, decided to join together with other civil rights leaders to plan a march on Washington. As the title of the march suggests, the two main goals of the march were Jobs and Freedom. The organizing manuals and newsletters from the March on Washington demanded works training programs and laws to prohibit employment discrimination. They also demanded the passing of new civil rights legislation to guarantee “access to all public accommodations, decent housing, adequate and integrated education, the right to vote.”[1] 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.
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. It was here that Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In the shadow of President Lincoln’s memorial, Dr. King spoke about the promises of democracy in America by quoting some of the country’s greatest historical documents.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]
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. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964.
The Promises of Democracy and Dr. King’s Dream
| “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. …I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” …This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, ‘My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.’” - Dr. King, “I Have a Dream” |
In these short excerpts, Dr. King quotes or references the Gettysburg Address, the Declaration of Independence, and “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” one of America’s great anthems. Go the “Historical American Documents” section of this website and read these great American documents, then go to the “Dr. King’s Words” section read the entire “I Have a Dream” speech. What does Dr. King think about the promises of American democracy in comparison to the reality of American life?
Dr. King made this speech in 1963. Do you think he succeeded in creating an America that lives up to the promises of the forefathers, or do you think there is still work to do? What do you think still needs to be done? How would you change the country and the world to make it a better place?
Consider how you would write your own speech or essay. What would you do the same and different from Dr. King?
[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.
