March On Washington – Causes and consequences essay Final The march on Washington in August 1963 is seen by many as the high point of the Civil Rights movement in America. This essay will look at how dissatisfaction with the slow pace of integration growing concern at the economic disparity between black and white Americans, the campaign in Birmingham under Martin Luther King juniors leadership, and the desire to support the proposed civil rights bill that Kennedy was introducing were the main causes of the March taking place. It will also discuss the consequences of the impact of Martin Luther King Jr’s speech, white backlash, the passing of the 1964 civil rights bill in recognition of the need to push for writing rights One of …show more content…
Kennedy said America faced a “moral crisis” and that it was “time to act in congress.” The events in Birmingham had forced Kennedy to act and he proposed to send new Civil Rights legislations to congress. Kennedy and his supporters would face great opposition from many of the White politicians who would use delaying tactics to defeat the Bill. To keep pressure on the administration to pass the bill, the Black leaders planned the March on Washington. This would also draw attention to the high level of Black Unemployment. Consequences Martin Luther Kings speech at the March on Washington was one of the greatest speeches of all time. ‘I Have a Dream’ is in every Americans heart as the speech that changed history. The speech was one of the most cleverly constructed speeches with its powerful imagery. ‘I Have a Dream’ also had a very strong Christian message; it did so because most of the African- American community was Christian. The speech was very calm and non-violent which meant it also followed the theme of non-violence, which carried through everything the African- Americans did. The speech was aimed at all people in America but was seen throughout the world as well. This speech and the March helped persuade the White senates and congressman to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Bill. One of the most immediate consequences of the March on Washington was the
Historians offer different perceptions of the significance of Martin Luther King and the 1963 March on Washington. Without examining this event within its historical context the media publicity and iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech can easily overshadow progress that was already underway in America. It was insisted by prominent civil rights activist Ella Baker, ‘the movement made Martin rather than Martin making the movement.’ What is important not to overlook is the significant change that took place in the United States during the previous 100 years. Such that, many influential figures in support of racial equality opposed the March. The Civil Rights Act proposed by President Kennedy in 1963 was already in the legislative process.
The marchers gathered at the Washington Monument before dawn as planned on August 28, 1963. At 11:30, 100,000 to 200,000 of them began marching towards the Lincoln Memorial singing “We Shall Overcome” (“The March on Washington” 12). At the memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered multiple speeches along with other African Americans about segregation and discrimination issues. During one of his speeches, King Jr. declared that “we will not hate you, but we cannot obey your unjust laws. Do to us what you will and we will still love you…But we will soon wear you down by our capacity to suffer. And in winning our freedom, we will so appeal to your heart and conscience, that we will win you in the process” (“Negro Protest Movement” 507). This statement by King Jr. describes his plans of further nonviolent protesting against “unjust laws” to convince others of the civil rights movement’s cause. He furthers this statement and elaborates his ideas in his infamous speech, “I Have a Dream.”
In the “Speech on March Washington” on August 28, 1963, civil rights activist John Lewis spoke at Washington D.C. In a movement for equal rights. Lewis’ purpose is to amplify his voice to show the unfair treatment of people of color during that time of segregation. Throughout the address, he applies pathos in order persuade the crowd of people to protest against the government 's ways. Change is the main point in John Lewis’s speech, in where he contradicts the idea of it happening due to segregation. Lewis’ speech represents the principles of not surrendering before realizing equal rights for everyone.
On August 28, 1963, John Lewis delivered his memorable speech on Washington to a 200,000 crowd of activist demanding peace and equality. Lewis’ purpose is to inspire others to join their march and make a mark on history. He adopts a demanding and bold tone in order to persuade the black activists and politicians to change the social norms and to join the social revolution. By demonstrating his demanding claims for equal rights to the politicians, whites, and African - Americans, John Lewis effectively utilizes syntax and diction to adequately get his message of hope, equality and desegregation.
Martin Luther King Jr. changed the Civil Rights movement with the sound of his voice. Martin Luther King was the most powerful activist for equal rights because of his peaceful marches, and speeches. The March on Washington and the I Have a Dream speech were the most important events he participated in. The “I Have a Dream” speech took place in August, 1963, in Washington D.C. The speech was monumental for the Civil Rights Movement, as it was broadcasted nationwide. The speech consisted of how African Americans have been discriminated against as time progress since the Gettysburg Address one hundred years before. Dr. King then went on to explain some of the problems African Americans still face today. As the speech went on he gradually raised
This Is the Day: The March on Washington is a magnificent book by Leonard Freed documenting the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was held at the National Mall in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963. This was a non-violent march sponsored by several civil rights organizations – leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the Urban League -- to help push Congress to pass President John F. Kennedy’s civil rights bill. This March main focus was on jobs and black unemployment, not just on the new civil rights law.
On August 28th 1963, Civil Rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr. made his infamous “I Have a Dream” speech. In the speech, King confronts the mistreatment of the African American community and the lack of free will they contain in society. Throughout the mid-1900s, the Civil Rights Movement took place, influenced by centuries of cruelty towards the African Americans.. The most influential speech in the modern era was said in front of thousands of Civil Rights activists who all shared a common goal; to fight for the respect and to be treated as equals within the United States.
Many decisions had to be made when approaching discrimination and segregation; many wanted this to end. The debate on what was best to approach the dangers of fighting for what you believed was weighed down to two options; violent protests or nonviolent protests. In the graphic novel titled “March” written and experienced by John Lewis himself with designs by Nate Powell, depicts the struggles of civil rights and the fight to earn it. The novel goes off to show mostly nonviolent protests, but outside of the novel during the 1960’s depicts and describes a different approach; Violent and free Protests. Two of the most impactful civil rights leaders Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael despised the clean and peaceful protests as they thought it was
Kennedy who shook hands with the leaders and discussed about a civil rights legislation. On July 2nd 1954 the Civil Rights acts was passed on. The act outlaws discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex or national origin. This lead to the desegregation of African Americans allowing them to use public transport equally, attending school with other races, equal use of medical facilities, etc. Although the desegregation was lifted, some locals believed that the government shouldn’t ban segregation in public areas and still continued to segregate people in public accommodations. This led to further violence and unrest between races. The act still continued to influence other important civil rights legislations such as, The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Voting rights act 1965 and the Civil rights Act of 1968. The Civil rights act of 1964 was an important and vital part of civil rights movements and was able to be achieved by the March on Washington and the civil rights activists who took part. The March was a major significant event as it was one of the largest gathering for protest, gave light to the everyday challenges and hardship that the African- Americans citizens faced, successfully achieved its main goal of gaining civil rights for jobs and freedom, and it finally was an inspirational movement for the future generations to learn from. As said in Source B, “It was the greatest assembly for a redress of grievances that this capital has ever
Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech directly contributed to the Civil Rights movement. While delivering his speech at a kairotic moment, King tells us how blacks have been serving an injustice and that they should be treated equally.
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a historical day, it was the day Martin Luther King, Jr gave his famous "I have a dream" speech. But why did the March on Washington have such an impact on people? I am going to help answer that question for you. The day was August 28, 1963, over 250,000 people showed up, on the historical day. The day had speeches from leaders and musical performances from Josephine Baker, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Mahalia Jackson just to name a few. 10 people spoke that day. King only spoke that day but not because he wanted to. Everyone thought that most of the TV crews would leave at noon. But everyone stuck around for his 16 minute speech. Believe it or not King was not even intending to talk about his "I
The March on Washington was a civil rights movement that occurred on August 28, 1963 (Jones x). The people who marched consisted of mainly African Americans, but also others seeking to gain equal rights for all people. Many Americans know of this movement for Martin Luther King Jr. giving an “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. However, not many people know about the details and another official leader of this movement, A. Philip Randolph. This protest was for “freedom” and nearly a quarter-million people gathered at the nation’s capital from all over the country (Jones x). By freedom, they meant to have the same rights and equality as whites do in both the economy and society.
The March on Washington was a rally in August 28, 1963 which brought together over 200,000 Americans in the fight for Civil Rights. The rally was organized to help people see and understand the bad encounters African Americans faced in their everyday life. “Nevertheless, both marches represented an affirmation of hope, of belief in the democratic process, and of faith in the capacity of blacks and whites to work together for racial equality.” ("March on Washington." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2015.)
The 1963 March on Washington was one of American’s very memorable, large-scale peace-rallies supporting these goals - this one with the goal to showcase an interest in ending racial prejudice, and to support the Civil Rights Bill. It was during this march that Dr. King gave his memorable, televised, and uplifting, “I Have a Dream” speech.1 Other protest groups and marches occurred with a similar goal. For instance, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was created to connect with younger folk interested in protesting primarily through sit-ins, boycotts, marches, and freedom rides, with a focus on nonviolence “… appealing to conscience and standing on the moral nature of human existence…”2 "The purpose”…in Alabama, according to King, was “to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation".3 The Alabama march began in Selma, and moved to Montgomery where the protesters were met by police with guard
In 1963 many events occurred that had a profound effect on the decade and the future of our country. The first was the Rev Martin Luther King Jr a major civil rights leader, realized that with Kennedy as President and an unsympathetic congress his chances of getting a civil rights bill passed into law was doomed. He decided in the summer of 1963 with the help of Urban league leaders and A. Philip Randolph‘s labor union, to publicize a March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. 300,000 mostly black Americans came to the nation’s capital to make the world aware of the need for new civil rights laws to ensure that no only blacks but all Americans would have equal political, social, and economic opportunities to succeed. This is where Rev King gave the most famous of all civil rights speeches known as “I Have a Dream” That speech and the large turnout did much to make the nation aware that a change in the law was inevitable.