March on Washington

“Free at last, free at last, thank God all mighty we are free at last.” That of course comes from the famous “I have a dream” speech given on August 29, 1963 at the end of the March on Washington. Imagine 250,000 marching together side by side demanding that change is to take place in the country’s legislation. Changes such as the immediate elimination of all racial discrimination in public schools throughout the nation. Other changes such as a federal law prohibiting racial discrimination in hiring workmen in either the public or private sector. As the march went on, more and more people joined; men, women, pastors, teachers, blacks, whites, politicians. Towards the end of the march at the Lincoln Memorial, John Lewis was quoted saying “ by the force of our demands, our determination and our numbers, we shall splinter the segregated south into a thousand pieces, and put them back together in the image of God and democracy.” The march on Washington was an amazing success. Many people in America saw for the first time blacks and whites united marching together side by side.