I hope you found profound ways to mark today—being the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington. In deciding how to celebrate on my blog, the answer came tonight after finding this film on the PBS website:
THE MARCH
The vital story of the 1963 March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have A Dream” speech, skillfully told:Executive Producer: Robert Redford
Narrated by: Denzel Washington
54:41Expires on September 10, 2013:
http://video.pbs.org/video/2365069476/
A day full of hope.
That was a time. I was 17 in front of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. I am now 67 and that makes sense, except for the the revocation of the Voting Rights Act, the murder of Trayvon, increased poverty due to the new plutocracy, further disolution of the average family budget, and the imprisonment of 1/3rd of minority males (most for non violent crimes). Other than that, the dream lives on.
Well said, Doc. Very well said.
I am sorry but I cant see this film . In France rights has to be paid for it . But 50 years ago I was in the States so I do remember so well what happen . Its was a great day !
Anita – I am so disappointed that I missed the PBS show and now I can’t figure out how to open any of these clips. I guess anyone who was at the March is too old to figure out these newfangled contraptions.
I was at the March. It was one of the high points of my life. Some local folks and SNCC people took the train from Thomasville (I think it was from there) GA with our sendoff being a bunch of young [whites] throwing rocks. I never believed in my wildest dreams that we would have a black president in my lifetime. I am still hoping that happens as Obama is a great disappointment in so many ways. But we do have a black president and without what went on 50 plus years ago that would not have been a possibility. I am also thrilled that John Lewis outlived all those who jumped all over him for his speech being too “confrontational”. I mean you don’t want to piss off Kennedy or white folks generally and they forced him to edit it or he would not have been allowed to speak. So his outliving them all and speaking today was a thrilling event for me.
Thanks for comment, Dennis. Always good to hear from true heroes of the Movement, such as yourself. Try going directly to the PBS site to see the film. It’s there until September 11. Hope this works: Let me know: http://video.pbs.org/video/2365069476/
You can also buy it for $25: http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=23148276&utm_source=PBS&utm_medium=Link&utm_content=themarch_covebuyit&utm_campaign=cove_buyit
I saw the film and had it playing in the background as my daughters were about their business in the house. It wasn’t long before it caught their attention. The film did a great job contextualizing the speech (and the event and everything going on at the time.) But the speech itself can be hard for disconnected folks – and kids – to connect with. Students have sometimes asked me, “What makes it so great?” And when you see everything it meant and all who were affected by it and everything going on in the day, the speech takes on a whole new dimension for kids.