We’re all familiar with the 1963 March on Washington for
Jobs and Freedom where Martin Luther King Jr. made his iconic “I have a Dream”
speech. However, many people are unaware of the obstacles the organizers had to
overcome in the months and years before the march in order to make the event a
success.
On Thursday, January 22 at 5:45 in the 7th floor
library, the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Council will hold a screening of
the film, The March, which goes behind the scenes with some
of the key players and organizers to bring us first-hand accounts of the
challenges and triumphs they faced in the build up to the march. After the
viewing we encourage all students to participate in a lively discussion about
new perspectives and insights gained from the film.
The March, also known as the “Great March on Washington”
took place on August 28th, 1963 and was one of the largest political
rallies in U.S. history with some 250,000 people in attendance.
It is widely credited for playing a significant role in
getting the U.S. government to take action on civil rights issues and igniting
political willpower for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act
of 1965.
Here’s a brief
description of the film:
“The program tells the
story of the how the march for jobs and freedom began, speaking to the people
who organized and participated in it. Using rarely seen archive footage the
film reveals the background stories surrounding the build up to the march … The
film follows the unfolding drama as the march reaches its ultimate triumphs,
gaining acceptance from the state, successfully raising funds and in the end,
organized and executed peacefully - and creating a landmark moment in the
struggle for civil rights and racial equality in the United States.”
The Diversity and Inclusion committee is comprised of Peirce
staff members and is committed to creating diversity focused events that serve
students. To learn more about the
D&I Council, other upcoming events, resources, and diversity facts, please
visit the Peirce
Diversity and Inclusion page.
