50 years ago on August 28, 1963: I Have A Dream, and more!
But like anything else worthwhile, it often takes a little digging for us to find that context. And why should we care about the past anyway? Because it's not just the past, that's why. I'm not trying to talk some pyschobabble when I say and mean that the past is really present.
So I'm going to talk about this day 50 years ago in class and tell you a few stories to help set a context. I hope it gets you excited to know a little more and find your own angles of pursuit on this tackle, and I've provided some links for you to follow to do just that, so that we don't just let another holiday or event in history pass without really thinking about what it really can mean to us now.
How things have changed since then, but how many questions remain. Could Mahalia be a star today? What does her story show us about the need for friendship and inspiration?
Here's some links, and just follow and read at your interest, as many as you can or wish, and then write a comment in the Comments section so we can share our thoughts and ideas on the March on Washington and the people involved. What stands out to you? I'll look forward to your comments!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20130827-a-song-that-made-america-believe
http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/gospel-great-mahalia-jackson-gave-wing-mlk-dream-172844132.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT0SUMSjMWw
http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/228061#0
http://www.archives.gov/press/exhibits/dream-speech.pdf
http://abcnews.go.com/US/things-make-dream-famous-speeches-history/story?id=20068795
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalia_Jackson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riu5ZaY2k2A
http://abcnews.go.com/US/things-make-dream-famous-speeches-history/story?id=20068795
http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2013/08/27/public-speaking-how-mlk-improvised-second-half-of-dream-speech/
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| Mahalia Jackson is one of the unknown stories at the March on Washington that just makes it so inspiring. |
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| Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963. 50 years ago yesterday. And it was hot, just like recently in Ohio. |
I think Mahalia had a beautiful voice and during that time in my view probably had a huge motivational impact on the whole movement.
ReplyDeletei think this singer caused even more people to join the movement and make the government more paranoid.
ReplyDeleteI think it is amazing how Mahalia helped to push Martin Luther King Jr. to 'tell them about the dream!" Mahalia was extremely influential and I can't believe I am just now learning about this!
ReplyDeleteI never really looked into the March on Washington but now that I've gone through some of those links I think it really was a wonderful thing!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really interesting how Martin Luther King Jr. did not have the dream speech planned out the day he spoke. That Mahalia told him to tell everyone. It was inspiring and influential in our history.
ReplyDeleteThis whole time I though that Martin Luther King Jr. actually had that speech prepared! Who would've thought! This day is one of the most influential days of America. Cant believe its been 50 years!
ReplyDeleteCrazy to think that its been fifty years since MLK Jr made his speech. I never knew much about Mahalia but I think it is really cool how she helped inspire him to speak. Such influential information.
ReplyDeleteI think it was amazing how such a large crowd didn't lose control and peacefully protest for what they believed was right.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly amazing that Martin Luther King Jr. came up with that remarkable speech on the spot. The fact that his idea or "dream" of racial equality was so profound within his beliefs, that he could express exactly what he wanted to without having to use pen or paper , is incredible. Even 50 years later, without a doubt, King is still an inspiration to all.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I didn't even know that there was any other part to the I have a dream speech. Finding out that this speech was deliver from the heart with such emotion in front of this many people is not only inspiring but it's also quite impressive. This man was a great American and this speaks to how important this issue was to him and to so many other Americans.
ReplyDeleteI had never really looked into the March on Washington other than Dr. King's infamous speech. It was amazing to see how large of a crowd and how many people and speakers were involved with the march. It was incredible to see how much went into it. Mahalia was amazing, I had never even heard of her before and she was so important to how the entire day is remembered.
ReplyDeleteI really had never spent the time looking into the march on Washington. I had just known about Dr. Kings famous speech and impact on the culture during his time. It's insane to even imagine what it would have looked like to be a part of the March on Washington.
ReplyDeleteDr. King's speech was the highlight of the march on Washington. but unknown to me was the other influential people around him. Mahalia was the unsung hero in the march. With her melodic voice and passion she must have influenced a great deal of the movement for equality and justice for all.
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