Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech is one of the most famous speeches in history. Widely regarded as one of the signature moments in the civil rights movement, Dr. King's speech focused on the necessity for change and the potential for hope in America.
Here are 3 more things to know about 08.28.1963.
1) The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom drew more than 250,000 people and was the first ceremony of such magnitude ever initiated and dominated by African-Americans. The march focused sought to influence the passage of meaningful civil rights legislation, the elimination of racial segregation in public schools and protection for demonstrators against police brutality, among other issues.
2) Security concerns were so high, nearly 12,000 police officers and military soldiers were on duty. The Pentagon even stationed an additional 19,000 troops in the suburbs. The heavy police presence was unnecessary, as the march was noted for its civility and peacefulness. Only four arrests were made.
3) Dr. King designed his speech as an homage to Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, timed to correspond with the 100-year centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation. The "I Have a Dream" theme at the end was partly improvised and inspired by Mahalia Jackson when she shouted, "Tell them about the dream, Martin!"
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