"March on Washington" Pennant
Date1963
Dimensions9 x 29 1/2 in. (22.9 x 74.9 cm)
DescriptionA navy blue and yellow felt pennant with the words "Civil / Rights / NOW!" in white text and "MARCH ON WASHINGTON / AUGUST 28, 1963" in black text. The verso of the pennant is white felt.The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom saw over 250,000 people descend on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Organized by a coalition of civil rights, labor, and religious leaders the March on Washington was one of the largest political rallies in United States history. The goal of the March was to end racial segregation in the workplace and in schools, to protect voting rights, enact labor protections and increase the federal minimum wage.
The March on Washington's pivotal moment came when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history. Later referred to as the "I Have a Dream" speech, Dr. King advocated, "I have a dream that my four little 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." Other speakers included John Lewis, future member of the U.S. House of Representatives, who spoke as the Chair of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Whitney Young of the National Urban League, and NAACP Executive Secretary Roy Wilkins. Musical performances followed the speakers, with artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, and gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Other attendees included Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Charlton Heston, Jackie Robinson, Sammy Davis Jr., and Bill Russell.
The March on Washington is credited with spurring the political action of the civil rights era, influencing the U.S. Congress's passing of both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
