March On Washington Essay

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a pivotal event in the civil rights movement, took place on August 28, 1963. It gathers thousands of people from all over the world, all with different backgrounds, but with the same purpose: fighting for equality and justice. As we dive into the significance of the March on Washington and its connection to Thoreau’s work, we gain insights into the relevance of civil disobedience in the present day. The March on Washington is a great example of how African Americans used nonviolent resistance, to challenge discrimination and bring about change, echoing Henry David Thoreu’s thoughts in his essay, On The Duty of Civil Disobedience. The March symbolized a peaceful gathering of marginalized people demanding

Philip Randolph informed President John F. Kennedy of his plan, along with other civil rights leaders, to organize a march on Washington. Despite Kennedy’s concerns about any potential violence, Randolph assured him that the protest would be orderly, peaceful, and nonviolent. Randolph’s confidence in the march’s peaceful nature stemmed from the continuous hard work and planning alongside his collaborators. Moreover, Randolph aimed for the march to serve as a platform for people to collaborate on ways to ensure fair treatment for African Americans by the government. The march serves as a powerful plan of action to voice the grievances of unjust laws and to stand up for legislative changes. Crowds of 250,000 engage in a nonviolent protest, highlighting the injustice and inequality prevalent in American society in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Through different speeches and chants, individuals included in the march assert their rights and demand equal treatment among society under the law. A prominent historical figure, Martin Luther King Jr. declared at the event of the march, “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful

One year later, President Lyndon Johnson enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting employment discrimination based on race. Thoreau’s essay, On The Duty of Civil Disobedience articulates the moral obligation to resist unjust laws and government actions through nonviolent protests and actions. His emphasis on individual moral rights and the right to challenge unjust laws finds resonance in the event of the March on Washington. Participants, inspired by the principles of civil disobedience, assert their moral authority in the face of standard oppression, refusing to agree to unjust norms and practices. With this, the triumph of this march supports Thoreau’s idea that “[a] minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight” (Thoreau 22). When individuals that advocate for civil rights join together, they can peacefully capture the government’s attention and compel it to enact changes for all. A well-functioning society relies on the active participation of all its members even if one party refuses to adhere to social norms. The principles of civil disobedience written by Thoreau and the importance of the March on Washington remain relevant in modern society. Despite the many advancements in civil rights, issues of systematic