Teaching the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

By Anthony Rebora

Next Wednesday, Aug. 28, marks the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, the monumental 1963 civil rights event at which Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Commemorative events, including rallies and panel discussions, are being held over the next several days. On the day of the anniversary, President Obama is scheduled to address the nation from the very spot on which King delivered his speech.

Many of the events, according to reports, are intended not simply to celebrate the original march but to draw much-needed inspiration and lessons from it in the face of continued racial disparities and injustices.

For teachers looking to bring this historical moment to the classroom, a number of organizations are providing resources.