Aug. 28 marks the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, an event that became a seismic shift in the Civil Rights Movement and American history. While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech remains etched in our collective memory, let’s not succumb to the temptation to reduce this monumental day to mere soundbites. With a fierce dedication to truth, I bring you six under-told aspects of the march that deepen our understanding of its legacy and its ongoing relevance.
1. A. Philip Randolph: The Visionary Behind the Idea
Long before Martin Luther King Jr. was a household name, A. Philip Randolph was already a civil rights force to be reckoned with. A labor leader who established the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the nation’s first officially recognized Black trade union, Randolph had initially conceived of a march on Washington in 1941. His activism compelled President Franklin D. Roosevelt to desegregate the defense industry and influenced President Harry S. Truman to integrate the military. Randolph’s focus on jobs and economic empowerment was pivotal in shaping the 1963 march, demonstrating that Black liberation requires systemic change.
2. The Power of Unity: The “Big Six”
While A. Philip Randolph and Martin Luther King Jr. are often spotlighted as the principal architects of the March on Washington, the truth is that the event was the product of a collaborative effort among several major civil rights organizations. Besides King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and the National Urban League were instrumental in planning the march. Leaders from these organizations joined Randolph and King to form what became known as the “Big Six,” convening in the summer of 1963 to lay the groundwork for this historic mobilization. In a Harlem townhouse that served as a planning hub, these leaders navigated through ideological, tactical, and personal differences—ranging from the NAACP’s legalistic approach, CORE’s corporate affiliations, to existing tensions between SNCC and SCLC over King’s high-profile role. Remarkably, they also bridged generational gaps; for instance, Randolph was a seasoned activist at 74, while SNCC’s chairman, John Lewis, was a youthful 23.
3. Bayard Rustin: The Man Behind the Curtain
While A. Philip Randolph spearheaded the idea of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. served as its most visible leader, the logistical mastermind behind the scenes was their close associate, Bayard Rustin. Randolph and Rustin had a longstanding partnership, with Rustin instrumental in orchestrating the previously proposed 1941 march as well as the 1957 Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom. Rustin, after collaborating with King in 1957, took on a mentoring role, imparting the philosophy and tactics of nonviolent protest to the emerging civil rights icon. However, societal norms of the time, due to Rustin being openly gay and having former Communist affiliations, made it challenging for him to take a public leadership role in the Civil Rights Movement. Consequently, his invaluable contributions, including the meticulous organization of the 1963 march, unfolded largely away from the public eye.
4. Not Everyone Was On Board
Contrary to popular belief, the march wasn’t universally praised among advocates for Black rights. Members of the Nation of Islam actively opposed the march, as did President John F. Kennedy, who initially feared the demonstration would be counterproductive. However, the march’s peaceful conduct ultimately swayed Kennedy, who met with its leaders afterward.
5. The Star-Powered Event
The March on Washington wasn’t just a watershed moment born out of the collective efforts of activists and civil rights organizations; it was a cultural phenomenon that drew some of America’s most celebrated figures to its stage. Harry Belafonte played a pivotal role in this, persuading A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, and Martin Luther King Jr. that enlisting celebrities could amplify their cause. Ossie Davis, appearing with Ruby Dee, also had a significant role in organizing the event. Under Belafonte’s guidance, an illustrious list of attendees converged on Washington—Sammy Davis Jr., Mahalia Jackson, James Baldwin, and Diahann Carroll, to name a few. But the luminaries weren’t exclusively Black; stars like Bob Dylan, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, Rita Moreno, and Joanne Woodward lent their support and presence as well. Live performances by Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and the trio of Peter, Paul and Mary underscored the march’s broad appeal and cultural resonance.
6. The Birth of the “Dream”
When the decision was made that Martin Luther King Jr. would deliver the keynote address at the March on Washington, he had already been diligently crafting his message. Multiple drafts were penned, but none would serve as the verbatim script for what unfolded on that historic day, August 28, 1963. The concept of the “dream” was not new; King had previously infused it into speeches, including one at a high school gym in North Carolina in 1962, and another in Detroit. As he stood at the podium during the march, King initially delivered a deeply substantive discourse addressing the persistent civil and economic inequalities burdening Black Americans. Despite the import of his words, the crowd was not yet fully electrified. It was then that Mahalia Jackson, who was familiar with King’s earlier oratory, prompted him from behind the stage. She shouted, “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” King, ever the skillful and responsive preacher, pivoted. Drawing on his past remarks, he began to articulate the vision that would captivate the nation and immortalize the speech as one of the most transformative and iconic addresses in American history.
Reflecting on The Legacy
In 1963, Black America stood on the precipice of transformation, yet was mired in a bitter struggle against systemic oppression. The March on Washington wasn’t merely a massive gathering; it was a clarion call for justice, a desperate plea from a community long relegated to the fringes of the American Dream. Segregation was the law of the land in many states; voting rights were curtailed by cunningly-designed literacy tests and brutal intimidation; economic opportunities were scant, and Black people disproportionately filled the lowest-paying jobs with little to no upward mobility. Fast forward to six decades later, and the tapestry of Black America has evolved significantly yet remains marred by enduring threads of inequality. Legislatively, there have been notable gains: the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act, and a series of affirmative action policies have leveled the playing field to some extent. We’ve seen the ascension of Black Americans to the highest echelons of every field, from politics and academia to sports and entertainment. However, even with these strides, challenges remain. The recent years have unveiled the persistent, insidious nature of systemic racism in ways that are impossible to ignore, from the disproportionate police killings of Black Americans to enduring racial disparities in health, education, and wealth. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare these inequalities, affecting Black communities at drastically higher rates both in health and economic terms. So, while we commemorate the progress inspired by the March on Washington, the urgency of now demands that we recognize the miles yet to go.
Let’s honor the legacy by expanding our understanding beyond the simplified narratives, recognizing the efforts of the many who stood in the shadows, and continuing the work that is glaringly yet to be done. This isn’t just Black history; this is American history. And it’s time we knew it in full.
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