40 years later … Have we overcome yet? - 40th Anniversary of The March on Washington: 1963-2003

By Coretta Scott King Founder, Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change

The day of the Great March on Washington was a day of increasing emotional power. Early in the day we were concerned because preliminary news reports suggested a modest turnout. But a later report indicated that a huge crowd had arrived and more were coming from all directions ... I remember having a growing sense that we were experiencing something of profound historical importance. Never before had such a large crowd conducted a nonviolent protest in the nation's capital. Never before had America given so much attention to the possibility of interracial unity. The collective spirit of everyone gathered seemed almost divinely inspired ... When Martin shared his cry for justice and his great dream for America, the spirit of the crowd soared higher still. The American Dream had found its greatest expression in the eloquent plea of a 34-year-old preacher, a proponent of unconditional love, justice for all and brotherhood for humankind.

There on the Mall it seemed as if the beloved community had descended on the capital of America, if only for a few fleeting moments. There was a powerful sense of connection between everyone at the Mall, and by extension those who heard the speech on radio and saw it on television. This day was a turning point for America. We now had a clear vision of the nation we must become to honor the sacred promise of our democracy. We now had our marching orders, and there would be no turning back.

The significance of the massive turnout at the Great March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech on that day was that it helped to insure the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. About 50 members of congress present at the Mall as observers left inspired to provide the leadership needed to recruit the support of their colleagues. President Kennedy watched from the White House and the March leadership met with him afterwards in an effort to solidify the nation's support of the Civil Rights Bill.

The "I Have A Dream" speech is now considered one of the most influential and widely quoted speeches of the 20th century. It remains to this very day the most vivid and eloquent description of the American Dream we have, and its influence is still being felt in the 21st century.

We have not overcome yet. It is true that we have made great progress in many areas. Many more African-Americans and other minorities now live in middle-class comfort. There is more interracial friendship, understanding and goodwill. African-Americans serve in greater numbers in political office, as well as the upper echelon of American business.

Yet, we have a long way to go before we realize Martin's dream of a nation united in justice, equality and peace. Despite the impressive gains of the last four decades, African-Americans are underrepresented in the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, county commissions and city councils. Nor have we achieved parity of economic opportunity ... Racial discrimination and other forms of bigotry remain tenacious evils in our society. Poverty and social injustice still grind the hope out of millions of lives. War and violence continue to afflict our world with increasing brutality and destruction.

But I think we have cause for hope, especially if we can rekindle a new era of social activism and voter participation to achieve the reforms needed to produce genuine equality, economic opportunity for all and peace with justice. If we keep faith with Martin's teachings and join together with an energized recommitment to create the beloved community, we will one day be celebrating his vision as a glorious reality.

By Rosa Parks Activist and National Symbol of the Movement

I was at the 1963 March on Washington, which grew out of the Montgomery Movement and the other great protests of the 1960s. I regretted at the time, as I said in my book [Rosa Parks: My Story, with Jim Haskins] that women were not permitted to play a greater role in the march.

The planning committee didn't want Coretta Scott King and the other wives of the male leaders to march with their husbands. Instead, there was a separate procession for them. And although Dorothy Height and I, and Daisy Bates, Josephine Baker and Lena Horne were introduced and made remarks, there were not enough women delivering major speeches. Despite the limitations, I think the march was a major American event. And while I appreciate the advances that we have made as a people, I realize that we still face some of the same challenges, such as unemployment, reduction in services, redlining, police brutality and economic disparity ...

By Dick Gregory Activist-Comedian

There'd never been anything like this march. Nothing had ever brought that many people out, and they came with so much attitude and with so much dignity.

Everybody, or almost everybody, was there. Even the people who were not there were there. If you believe all the people who talk about "the day we marched," you would have to say that in a sense all 20 million Blacks marched on Washington on August 28, 1963.