This Day in History: August 28, 1963
Martin Luther King, Jr I Have a Dream |
It wasn't just the music that had an indelible impact on the event. It was the word's of Mahalia Jackson after her performance that came from behind the podium on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King was speaking.
"Tell them about the dream, Martin! Tell them about the dream!"
At that moment, as can be seen in films of the speech, Dr. King leaves
his prepared notes behind to improvise the entire next section of his
speech—the historic section that famously begins "And so even though we
face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is
a dream deeply rooted in the American dream...."
At the March on Washington in 1963 Mahalia sang in front of 250,000 people "I've Been 'Buked, and I've Been Scorned", in which Martin Luther King, Jr. made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. She also sang "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" at the funeral of her friend Martin Luther King, Jr. She was one of his favorite gospel singers. Indeed, her good friend Martin Luther King said "a voice like hers comes along once in a millennium". In addition to sharing her singing talent with the world, she mentored the extraordinarily gifted Aretha Franklin; she was a close friend of Aretha's father, C. L. Franklin, and a frequent guest in the Franklin home.On August 28, 1963 some 250,000 Americans assembled in the nations capital for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Performers such as Mahalia Jackson and Bob Dylan performed for the crowd, but the most memorable moments came when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his I Have a Dream speech. Despite the size of the peaceful protest, President John Kennedy's civil rights legislation languished in Congress. It would take a new president, Lyndon Johnson, to move the bill forward. LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.Dr. Martin Luther King Tribute
I Have a Dream Speech
Martin Luther King's Address at March on Washington
August 28, 1963. Washington, D.C.
Martin Luther King's Address at March on Washington
August 28, 1963. Washington, D.C.
More than one person made history on this day but none any more famous than the speech given by Martin Luther King, Jr. which became a turning point for our nation.
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