The March in Washington (1963)

[Music] [Applause] [Music] we all I had was things to eat [Music] of a giant step toward dignity and full participation in American life and Affairs was taken by the American Negro in the capital of the United States on the day of August 28th 1963 Are Not Afraid we are [Music] the step was taken solemnly and in Union with many of their white [Music] countrymen my [Music] heart we over [Music] over we shall [Music] over we shall [Music] over we over [Music] in my heart you and we [Music] shall the footstep of the march in Washington was firm with a quiet purpose and a mannerly Rhythm it arrived housed even in the centers a larger awareness of the right of the Negroes As Americans to share equally not only the Sun and air so clear and free on the day of their March but their right as Americans to share opportunity and privilege as well America has known this intellectually for a long time for 100 Years by history's calendar on August 28th America learned this emotionally with Clarity more penetrating than intellect every kind and class every generation of America participated if not in the city of Washington across the land by television America mutely attended the feeling of the March and heard the all-encompassing Cry For Freedom from indignity America heard back into the miles of her history to Lincoln Jefferson Tom Payne Patrick Henry everybody attended the march in Washington of August [Music] 28th in this city that has a massive traffic problem even in normal times traffic had been rerouted and Acres of space had been reserved for the buses that brought the thousands of visiting demonstrators we'd like to sing a [Music] song I a hammer in the morning hammer in all over this land Hammer danger Hammer warning ham I love between the brothers and sisters all this momentum for the March began Slowly by 11:30 a.m. a mounting tide of children students parents grandparents placards and Banners held aoft we're walking down the wide Avenue named in honor of the Constitution of the country no attempt was made or thought given to strict lines of marching the mood of the day was serious but relaxed 200,000 strong they marched in the largest demonstration for civil rights in the history of the United States Catholics Protestants and Jews the humble and the famous westerners Northerners and Southerners a cross-section of the 50 states were represented as they progressed along the Avenue loose ly grouped together by States or organizations or bus [Music] loads some arrive by roller skates some by train and plane some drove private automobiles 30 50 Mi all now walked to the memorial site preserved in honor of Abraham Lincoln they walked to express to the nation in peaceful fashion their rights to freely assemble and be heard as spelled out in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States the first amendment requires that the government not only refrain from interference with peaceful assemblies it must restrain the restrainers as well the Boston Tea Party let off a long chain of effective social protests in America the suffragette demonstration spread to many cities before their cause was Victorious and the struggles of American labor were traditionally advertised through the right to peacefully assemble and be heard a renowned American jurist recently said a function of free speech under our system is to invite dispute it may strike at prejudices and preconceptions and have profound unsettling effects as it presses for acceptance of of an idea [Music] me [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] happy happy happy we're going to Mar we're going to walk together we're going to stand together we're going to sing together we're going to stay together we're going to moan together we're going to grown together and after a while we say freedom freedom freedom now [Applause] [Music] a tree in [Music] paradise and the pilgrims call a tree of life oh your [Music] oh your Tri Lord [Music] I give you Mr Bert [Applause] Lancaster all Americans traveling no matter where in the world today are in the position of ambassadors and are very often made bitterly aware of our country's reputation it is not easy to be an American abroad nor is it easy to make coherence to those who are not Americans the nature and the meaning of our struggle and we are therefore forever indebted to those Americans represented by the March on Washington movement for giving us so stunning an example of what America aspires to become and for helping us to redefine in the middle of this dangerous century what is meant by the American Revolution we recognize that it is not only in America that the battle for freedom and dignity of peoples is being waged the struggle toward freedom on the part of the previously subjugated is occurring in capitals and Villages all over the world it is on our awareness of what this struggle means and in the degree of our dedication to it that our futures and the future of the world [Applause] depends 150 members of the Congress of the United States arrived at the rally to add their support and the support of the people of the states they represent to the spirit of the march in Washington [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] fre [Music] let us Cel you and me Theo is [Music] democracy spread the message forign need the time is now the place is here the acknowledged champion of civil rights in America Mr Roy Wilkins executive secretary National Association for the ADV [Applause] Poli I want some of you to help me win a bit I want everybody out here in the open to keep quiet and I want to hear a yell and a thunder from all those people who are out there under the trees let's hear [Applause] you yeah yeah there's one of them in the tree let us bow our heads in prayer God of history and of all mankind god of Abraham and Moses Amos and Isaiah Jesus and Paul God of our weary [Music] years God of our silent k pour out thy benediction upon the United States of America pour it out upon President Kennedy as the freedom Marchers remained at the monument grounds to close their demonstration in prayer their leaders moved on to the White House to meet with President Kennedy the president's active concern with the progress for the Negro in housing education and employment is well known the members of the overall policy Committee of the march in Washington reported the conference was friendly and Cooperative chairman A Philip Randolph reports first is not going we believe that it's going to have its effect on the image of our country all over the world because it will indicate that not only are Negroes struggling to achieve a transition from second class to First Class citizenship but that our white brothers and sisters are Marching arm in-arm with the Negro citizens of the country for the purpose of achieving this objective and consequently this is and has been a great American Experience the Reverend Dr Eugene Carson Blake United Presbyterian Church of the United States of America was another of the March leaders judgment was right the thing we wanted to do was to get in behind the leadership of the Negro Community clearly the religious leader of this occasion was Martin Luther King and we are proud to have served behind and strengthening the witness that he's been carrying the other thing is that we did produce a nons segregated March Mr Walter Ruther of the United Auto Workers of America was also a member of the committee that met with President Kennedy and I believe that the real significance of what we have started here today is that we have laid the groundwork for the building of a functioning broad Coalition of Americans from all walks of life from all points of view from all Races and Creeds and color who can carry on not only the common struggle to achieve an effective and meaningful civil rights legislation but who can do this practical work the day-to-day job of fighting discrimination in education in housing in employment in public accommodation and I think this is the true significance of what we have started today pleasure now to present the moral leader of our nation one who has conducted a massive moral campaign in the southern area of the nation against the Citadel of racism Dr Martin Luther King Jr thank you Mr Randol I would simply like to say that I think this has been one of the great days of America and I think this March will go down as one of the greatest if not the greatest uh demonstrations for freedom and human dignity ever held in the United States [Music] the slumbering conscience of America stood aroused tall and awakened as Twilight fell over the march in Washington of August 28th it admitted a lingering sense of shame it admitted pain had been overlooked in so doing America reminded herself of her Destiny her aspirations the dream which brought forth her birth and America turned her eyes full upon the issues of freedom and Justice issues for all she turned her attention to the Civil Rights bill before the Congress which is currently under examination of the elected representatives of all the towns and cities of the land she turned her thoughts to the job ahead the sound and spirit of the massive reminder of the meaning of freedom traveled around the world on the day of August 28th rightfully initiating from the grounds where Abraham Lincoln sits silently and Gravely watching over this land from the memorial erected to his memory the US is reminded it is not enough to Hope together to pray together she is reminded she must speak and act for the common good [Music]