The March
The March
The March on Washington, 1963: preparations, organization, arrivals, performers, speeches, etc.
The March
FI MS Director of United States Information Agency Carl T. Rowan speaking to camera, introducing program, praising nonviolence and the March on Washington. FO/FI TLS/MSs stakebed truck outfitted with civil rights placards & public address system driving through downtown area of small-sized city. MS African-American man pushing garment rack (clothes rack) along street. TLS black man hauling dolly of packages along sidewalk. CU black woman passing out leaflets on street. MS black woman & early teenage son window-shopping. MS civil rights activist A. PHILIP RANDOLPH speaking at press conference: "Negroes want the same things that whites possess. All of their rights. They want no reservations. They want complete equality, social, economic & political. And no force under the sun can stand & stop this civil rights revolution now underway." Panning MSs African-American & Caucasian folks (mostly college students or age-equivalent) singing "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize."
The March
Traveling shots of buses driving along nighttime streets. Sideview silhouette CU of bus driver, early morn. MS African-American man holding umbrella, standing in small crowd gathered on Washington Mall; TLS small crowd of march organizers on steps of Lincoln memorial, Washington Monument in BG, one black man talking into bullhorn; MSs black man using walkie-talkie (two-way radio); MS/CUs black & white volunteers at Mall, listening to instructions; TLS "March on Washington" banner being erected; panning TLS/MSs tables being set up, placards being built & readied for distribution by black & white volunteers; MS/MCUs volunteers making cheese sandwiches in cafeteria; MSs white men unloading cardboard boxes from truck; MSs white & black choir rehearsing, singing "We Shall Overcome." More shots of volunteers making cheese sandwiches. MS/CUs March on Washington pins being distributed.
The March
Panning high angle TLS African-Americans praying in Baptist church, genuflecting at pews during prayer. MS black men & women passing cam, boarding bus at station. TLS/MSs whites & blacks boarding charter bus at corner of Lexington Place, night. MS bus with banner ("March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom") passing cam. TLS train traveling toward cam, countryside. TLSs charter buses passing cam, driving along highways, headed for Washington; excellent MS/CUs African-Americans & Caucasians talking, chatting, eating on buses (could easily pass for Freedom Rides); CU black woman wearing UAW cap, riding bus; CU black man smoking cigar, riding bus.
The March
TLS/LSs white man testing public address system, speaking into microphone (microphone check) Washington Monument in BG of one dramatic shot. TLS men constructing press scaffolding. TLS crowd milling beneath March on Washington banner, Monument in BG. MS black man painting placard under canopy while black boy watches. MS black man on telephone beneath canopy. TLS white men building scaffolding, Monument & sliver of moon in BG. Great nighttime WLS U.S. Capitol Building, automobile traffic (headlights), night. TLSs crowd of blacks & whites swaying, holding hands, singing, "We Shall Overcome" in park at night; 2nd shot shows crowd shaking hands, yelling, "Yes!" in response to being asked if they want to be free. Cut to high angle LS Washington Mall, Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial, pre-dawn of August 28, 1963. Nice DOF LS Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument in BG, four people walking from cam in mid-ground. Nice aerial shot of Washington Mall, Monument, Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial. TLS train pulling into station. MS/TLSs African-Americans & Caucasians alighting train, walking along platform, many singing.
The March
MCU African-American man smoking cigarette, riding bus headed for March on Washington. MSs black man handing out civil rights ("Freedom Now" & "UAW") stickers on bus, passengers passing items out; MS man speaking to passengers over intercom; CU black man wearing UAW cap, smoking pipe, riding bus; MSs young black women applying makeup on bus; MSs passengers-- many wearing UAW caps-- waving to meager crowds on street corners; traveling shots crowds comprised of blacks.
The March
Zooming TLS folk singer JOAN BAEZ playing guitar, singing, "We Shall Overcome" from stage near Washington Mall while flanked by hordes of pressmen, photographers, reporters, cameramen. Panning high angle LSs large crowd gathered at steps of Washington Monument during March on Washington. Rear view TLS crowd walking toward larger crowd gathered at Monument. TLS stream of Greyhound buses passing camera. LS demonstrators walking through park. TLS folk singer ODETTA performing "I m On My Way" for large crowd. MS white man handing out buttons. MS black man shaking hands with white priest. MSs crowd clapping, snapping to rhythm. H/a TLS/LSs large crowd, many carrying placards.
The March
MSs actor OSSIE DAVIS speaking to crowd, calling end to ceremony at foot of Washington Monument, instructing crowd to proceed to the Lincoln Memorial. Panning high angle LSs crowd walking to Lincoln Memorial, carrying placards, passing Reflecting Pool. Ms man speaking to crowd through bullhorn. MS black man wearing sunglasses listening to walkie-talkie (two-way radio). MS black women in their Sunday best stepping over fence. MSs crowd marching. TLS Brooklyn College chapter of the NAACP marching. MS ROY WILKINS and A. PHILIP RANDOLPH marching. TLS/MSs marchers heading for Lincoln Memorial. MS members of Virginia State Unit of SCLC (Southern Christian leadership Conference) marching w/ placards toward cam.
The March
Great LSs large crowd at Washington Mall, Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial. Nice high angle LS massive crowd at Lincoln Memorial, snaking around Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument in BG. MS two African-American police officers standing, talking with Caucasian cop. MS people drinking water from multi-tap fountain on side of truck. TLS/MSs crowd at Lincoln Memorial. TLS singer MARIAN ANDERSON taking to podium, shaking hands with A. PHILIP RANDOLPH. TLS black man in tree applauding. MS/TLSs Marian Anderson (wearing a coolie-like straw hat) performing "He s Got the Whole World in His Hands" at steps of Lincoln Memorial, statue of Abraham Lincoln in BG; MSs crowd listening to performance.
The March
(DO NOT LICENSE IMAGE OR AUDIO OF "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE KING ESTATE) TLS U.S. Navy color guard (three African-American sailors) standing on steps of Lincoln Memorial w/ two American flags. MS black U.S. Marine in dress blue uniform drinking water (black man standing behind him holds canteen). MS Rev. Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. speaking from steps of Lincoln Memorial: "I am happy to join w/ you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation." TLS African-Americans standing, applauding. MS Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. continues speech: "Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity. But 100 years later, the Negro is still not free." LS/TLS/MSs audience listening to speech.
The March
(DO NOT LICENSE IMAGE OR AUDIO OF "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE KING ESTATE) LS Rev. Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. delivering "I Have a Dream" speech from steps of Lincoln Memorial: "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves & the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering w/ the heat of injustice & oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom & justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping w/ the words of interposition & nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys & black girls will be able to join hands w/ little white boys & white girls as sisters & brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill & mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, & the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, & all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope."
The March
(DO NOT LICENSE IMAGE OR AUDIO OF "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE KING ESTATE) MS/TLS Rev. Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. delivering "I Have a Dream" speech from steps of Lincoln Memorial: "With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring." And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of NY. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of CA! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of GA! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of TN! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of MS. From every mountainside, let freedom ring. When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men & white men, Jews & Gentiles, Protestants & Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" C/As of audience listening.
The March
LS crowd at Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument in BG. Panning MS black men & women cheering, applauding, smiling. TLS integrated crowd holding hands, swaying, singing, "We Shall Overcome." LSs crowd leaving, black men stacking metal chairs. TLS two white women standing in empty park, talking, surrounded by much refuse (litter, garbage, debris). MSs black men & women soaking feet in Reflecting Pool. TLS/LSs crowds leaving, heading for transportation. MS young African-American man wearing Queens College sweatshirt palling w/ young black woman. Rear view TLS white man & woman soaking feet in Reflecting Pool. TLS three young white people sitting, talking beneath tree in garbage-strewn park. Panning TLS cameramen, press, reporters flanking Whitney Young, Jr & civil rights leaders; MS A. PHILIP RANDOLPH speaking to pressmen (ROY WILKINS at his side): "I think history was written today that will have effect on coming generations with respect to our democracy, with respect to our ideals, with respect to the great struggle of man toward freedom & human dignity." Traveling shot U.S. Capitol Building over ridge, night. MCUs African-American & Caucasian men sleeping on buses.