Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images (March); AFP via Getty Images (MLK Jr.); Courtesy of Tom Ellison (Ellison, 1962)

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Marching Toward a Dream

The incredible story of a protest that changed America: the 1963 March on Washington

December 2024/January 2025
by Allison Friedman
Slideshow

Courtesy of Tom Ellison

Tom Ellison, around 1962

    Twelve-year-old Tom Ellison stepped off the bus. His heart was humming with excitement. Finally, he was here: Washington, D.C.!

    It was August 28, 1963. Tom had traveled north from his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Across the country, thousands of people had made similar trips. 

    Now a huge crowd was flooding the nation’s capital. They wanted equal treatment for Black Americans. For nearly 200 years, Black Americans had been robbed of basic rights by racist laws. They also faced hate and violence—especially in the South. 

    That day, the crowd was going to march together for about a mile. At the end, civil rights leaders would give speeches calling for change. This protest was known as the March on Washington.

    As Tom got ready to walk, he felt something special: hope. It was already clear that this event would change history.

Unfair Treatment

    In the 1960s, states in the South had unfair rules known as Jim Crow laws. These laws kept Black Americans separate from White Americans. Black people went to different schools. They had separate seating areas in restaurants and on buses. 

    The laws also kept Black people from voting and holding many types of well-paying jobs. (There were fewer of these laws in the Northern states. But segregation and hateful treatment were common there too.)

    Growing up in Birmingham, Tom was affected by Jim Crow laws. He couldn’t go to school with White kids. He couldn’t play on the same playgrounds as they did either. The separate spaces set aside for Black people were often dirty, old, or run-down.

    Black Americans were also victims of violence. Attacks against Black people were common in Birmingham and throughout the South. Tom’s parents urged him to be careful. They worried when he went out in the city by himself. 

Peaceful Protest

    Despite the danger, people across the U.S. were pushing back against unfair laws. This fight for equal treatment for Black Americans became known as the civil rights movement.

    One of the movement’s leaders was a young minister from Atlanta, Georgia. His name was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King urged people to stand up to the laws in peaceful, nonviolent ways.

    Nonviolent protests started springing up across the country. Black people refused to ride segregated city buses. They sat down in Whites-only restaurants, politely waiting to be served.

    Tom’s father was a minister named Marvin. He helped lead such protests in Birmingham. Inspired by his dad, Tom soon joined the cause. 

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Big News
A young paperboy holds up a newspaper during the March on Washington. People came from across the country to take part.

Marching Together

    By 1963, the civil rights movement had made some progress. Still, segregation was a reality in much of the nation. Movement leaders decided it was time for a national protest.

    That’s how Tom found himself in that huge crowd in Washington, D.C. Shortly before 11:30 a.m., the march began. Tom set off with his friends. He proudly waved a sign that said “Justice for All.” 

    But for Tom, the highlight of the day came later that afternoon. That’s when Dr. King took the stage. He was to give the last speech of the day. By then, more than 250,000 people had gathered. 

    As Dr. King began, his powerful voice carried through the air. He urged people to continue pushing for civil rights in peaceful ways. Then, about halfway through his speech, Dr. King looked up. That’s when he stopped reading from his speech—and began speaking from his heart.

    “I have a dream,” he said, “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” He described his vision of a better future for Black Americans. Over and over, he repeated the words he would become famous for: “I have a dream.”

    When he finished, people in the audience cheered loudly. They cried and hugged strangers. Standing there, Tom felt inspired—and full of hope. 

Underwood Archives/Shutterstock

Marching Side by Side
Marchers held up signs to share their views. They wanted equal rights for Black Americans.

The Dream Lives On

Courtesy of Tom Ellison

Tom Ellison today

    That hope turned to celebration less than a year later. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It officially banned segregation and unfair treatment based on race.

    Sadly, four years later, Dr. King was shot and killed. But the dream he shared at the march lived on in everyone who heard it—including Tom Ellison.

    Now in his 70s, Tom is a doctor. He has continued to fight for civil rights throughout his life. He reminds young people that it’s never too early to start trying to change the world.

    “You’re not going to be an active part of the future if you’re not an active part of the present,” he tells them. 

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images 

History is Made
At the end of the march, Dr. King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

She Wants to Change the World

Matt Odom/Getty Images for Scholastic

Yolanda Renee King is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s granddaughter. She’s working to keep his dream alive. Will you help her?

Library of Congress/Donaldson Collection/Getty Images

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, civil rights leader Coretta Scott King.

    When your grandfather is a civil rights hero, people are going to expect great things from you. Luckily, 16-year-old Yolanda Renee King is up to the challenge.

    Yolanda is the only grandchild of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, civil rights leader Coretta Scott King. Both died before Yolanda was born. 

    But her parents have continued the family’s fight for equality. And Yolanda has felt the pull to become an activist too. 

    At age 9, she gave a speech in front of thousands of people in Washington, D.C. It was part of a rally for stricter gun laws. She has also published a children’s book with a powerful message: Kids can help change the world. 

    Now, along with her parents, she is leading a new initiative. It’s called Realize the Dream. The project aims to inspire communities across the country to perform community service. The goal is to log 100 million hours of service before the 100th anniversary of Dr. King’s birth in 2029.

    “It’s a big goal,” Yolanda admits. “But if we all do our small part, we can have a big effect.” Here, the teen shares her thoughts on how you can help change the world. 

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images (Anniversary Speech); Orchard Books/Scholastic (Book)

Using her Voice
Yolanda spoke at the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington. Last year, she released a book about her grandparents’ lives and work.

When and how did you first become interested in activism?

    I was always aware of what was going on around me. My parents included me in conversations about their work. Even from a very early age, I was concerned about issues like homelessness. We would see homeless people and I would say, “Why is it like this? We have to fix this.”

Can you tell us a little more about Realize the Dream? What is the goal? 

    Realize the Dream is about continuing the work my grandfather began. It’s about creating a better world for everyone through volunteering. That means stepping up, looking for people and causes that could use your help. It’s hard for one person to change the world. But if we work together, it’s amazing the difference we can make. So that’s the goal—getting people to come together to make a difference in our schools, our communities, and the world. 

How can kids and teens take part in Realize the Dream?

    Just start with something you care about and come up with ways you can help. It could be something like a food drive or a park cleanup. Kids can create change. It doesn’t matter how young you are, what school you go to, or where you live.

What have you learned from your parents and grandparents about being a changemaker?

    Patience. You have to learn to be patient and have faith. In the beginning, you’re excited. Everyone’s hyped. And then a lot of times people will start to drop out because it’s not as easy as they thought. So I think the biggest lesson is just patience and putting in the work. It’s something I’m still learning. 

Want to learn more about being a part of Realize the Dream? Click through our slideshow below.

Slideshow
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Synthesizing
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Paired Texts
Topic
Social-Emotional Learning, History, Inspiration
Genre
Nonfiction
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Meet Yolanda Renee King

Hear how this teen changemaker is honoring her grandfather's memory through activism.
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Lesson Plan: Marching Toward a Dream/She Wants to Change the World

A step-by-step lesson plan for these paired texts

SKILL: Text Features, Synthesizing

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Higher Level: Marching Toward a Dream/She Wants to Change the World

Read or print a 800L-900L version of this article in magazine view.
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Read or print a 500L-600L version of this article in magazine view.
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