civil rights movement – watercress words by Dr Aletha

updated January 15, 2025

Monday, August 28, 2023, marked the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington, D.C. According to the NAACP,

more than a quarter million people participated in the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, gathering near the Lincoln Memorial. Dr. King, originally slated to speak for 4 minutes, went on to speak for 16 minutes, giving one of the most iconic speeches in history.
NAACP

A Presidential Proclamation

As President of the United States, Joe Biden issued an official proclamation for Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. In it, Biden encouraged all Americans to observe the day with appropriate civic, community, and service projects in honor of Dr. King. Below are excerpts from the 2023 proclamation.

Today, we honor the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by continuing his unfinished work to redeem the soul of America.
President Joe Biden

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is located in West Potomac Park at 1964 Independence Avenue, SW, referencing the year the Civil Rights Act Of 1964 became law.

The memorial’s official dedication date is August 28, 2011, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, though the ceremony was postponed until October 16 due to Hurricane Irene.

These photos are from my visit to Washington DC in 2022. It was my first time to see the memorial to Dr. King and it is even more impressive than I had imagined from photos I had seen.

“OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN OF DESPAIR A STONE OF HOPE”

“darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

a Beloved Community

“Dr. King imagined a different future for America — an America he called the “Beloved Community.” Building the Beloved Community required a key shift in human understanding.

It meant looking beyond external differences to see the union of all humankind.

It also meant finding a way to deal with our grievances without animosity, in a way that recognized the interconnectedness of all humanity and allowed us to move forward together.”

Remembering King’s life

“From the pulpit to the podium to the streets, Dr. King devoted his life to the quest for this Beloved Community in our Nation.

His activism and moral authority helped usher in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

He gave a voice to the restless spirit of millions yearning for change. He gave us a roadmap to unify, to heal, and to sustain the blessings of the Nation to all of its people.

Dr. King called for greater fairness in our health care system, and my Administration is pushing to put quality, affordable health care within reach of all people — especially the most vulnerable and marginalized Americans. By lowering costs and improving access, we can make health care a right and not just a privilege.

Dr. King preached that “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.” In his memory, we strive to challenge violence and bigotry with grace and goodness.”

Fulfilling King’s Legacy

“On this day of commemoration, service, and action, let us hold up a mirror to America and ask ourselves: What kind of country do we want to be?

Will we honor Dr. King’s legacy by rising together — buttressed by each other’s successes, enriched by each other’s differences, and made whole by each other’s compassion? I believe we can.

It will require constant care for our democracy, stubborn faith in this great experiment, and a commitment to stamping out discrimination in all forms.

It will demand honest reflection about how far we have come and how far we have yet to go to be the best version of ourselves.

But like Dr. King, I know that there is nothing beyond this Nation’s capacity and that we will fulfill the promise of America for all Americans — perfecting the Union we love and must protect.”

Books by and about Dr. King

These book suggestions lead to affiliate links which may pay a commission to this blog at no extra cost to you.

A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Picture Book Biography)

A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Essential Martin Luther King, Jr.: “I Have a Dream” and Other Great Writings

Martin Luther King Jr.: A Life From Beginning to End

And many more books at my online store at Bookshop.org

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore that financially supports local, independent bookstores.

We believe bookstores are essential to a healthy culture and they are dedicated to the common good.

Bookshop.org donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores.

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updated August 23, 2023

Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
Isaiah 40:4-5, NIV

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quoted this scripture passage from Isaiah chapter 40 in his famous speech at the “March on Washington” on August 28, 1963.

(Interestingly, this passage was also used as the lyrics for one of the songs in Handel’s Messiah.)

“I have a dream.”

“even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. “
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On the third Monday of January every year, the United States observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as an official federal holiday.

Listen to and read the full text of “I Have A Dream”.

The Reverend Dr. King led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. His famous speech, delivered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. is remembered, read, and recited by people all over the country on the anniversary of his birth each year.