57 years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the Great March on Washington in support of civil rights. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial to hear Dr. King and the other movement leaders describe the dream of an end to systemic racism and white supremacy in the United States, in one of the most famous speeches in American history.
It has now been six decades since that speech, and we are in another movement for racial justice that brings us closer to Dr. King’s dream.
Today, we remember civil rights leaders, such as John Lewis, Philip Randolph, Rosa Parks and Roy Wilkins. They fought for change all those years ago, and we march alongside those who are fighting for change right now.
Across YouTube today, you’ll see ways to learn more about racial justice: Explore the rich history of the civil rights movement, join in the Commitment March from home, and be inspired by the songs and stories of changemakers.
We have collected some of the seminal moments from the march in our playlist The History of the March on Washington, where you can revisit the speeches and hear from the leaders of the movement.
John Lewis was just 23 years old when he addressed the crowd. Here, he shares his perspective on that moment: