The sound of a movement. The power of a people.
The March is a landmark documentary capturing the historic 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where over 250,000 people gathered peacefully to demand civil and economic rights for African Americans. The film chronicles the preparation, energy, and unity behind the event — culminating in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
Produced by the U.S. Information Agency and directed by James Blue, the film was originally intended for international audiences to showcase American democracy in action. Today, it stands as one of the most vital firsthand visual accounts of the civil rights movement.
Public domain · Runtime: ~33 minutes
Voices of hope. Images of history. The March lives on.
The March is a landmark documentary capturing the historic 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where over 250,000 people gathered peacefully to demand civil and economic rights for African Americans. The film chronicles the preparation, energy, and unity behind the event — culminating in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
Produced by the U.S. Information Agency and directed by James Blue, the film was originally intended for international audiences to showcase American democracy in action. Today, it stands as one of the most vital firsthand visual accounts of the civil rights movement.
Public domain · Runtime: ~33 minutes
Voices of hope. Images of history. The March lives on.
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LearningTranscript
00:00Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Carl T. Rowan. As the new director of the United States Information
00:14Agency, I have the privilege to present to you a dramatic document of man's continuing
00:21search for dignity. It is a film about the great civil rights march in Washington, a
00:28moving exercise of one of the most cherished rights in a free society, the right of peaceful
00:34protest. I believe that this demonstration of both whites and Negroes, supported by the
00:41federal government and by both President Johnson and the late President Kennedy, is a profound
00:48example of the procedures unfettered men use to broaden the horizons of freedom and deepen
00:55the meaning of personal liberty.
01:00Freedom Now movement, hear me. We are requesting all citizens to move into Washington to go by
01:06plane, by car, bus, any way that you can get there. Walk if necessary. We are pushing for
01:14jobs, housing, desegregated schools. This is an urgent request. Please join. Go to Washington.
01:22The Jonians want the same things that white citizens possess, all of their rights. They
01:33want no reservations. They want complete equality, social, economic, and political. And no force
01:38under the sun can stand and block and stop this Civil Rights Revolution, which is now underway.
01:45which is now under way.
01:58On August 28, 1963, 200,000 Americans came to Washington
02:03to demand complete freedom for everyone.
02:05This is the story of that day.
02:15Hold on, hold on, hold on, keep your eyes on the plan, hold on, hold on.
02:26Well, if the FBI would investigate, then probably then we could integrate.
02:33Keep your eyes on the plan, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.
02:45Keep your eyes on the plan, hold on, hold on.
02:52Well, we are all here black and white, trying to fight by equal rights.
02:59Keep your eyes on the plan, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.
03:11Keep your eyes on the plan, hold on, hold on.
03:18They came from Los Angeles and San Francisco, or about the distance from Moscow to Bombay.
03:28They came from Cleveland, from Chicago, or about the distance from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro.
03:33They came from Jackson, Mississippi, from Birmingham, Alabama,
03:37or about the distance from Johannesburg to Doris Salaam.
03:41By the end of August 1963, in some places of the United States,
03:46a Negro could not go to school where he chose, eat where he wished,
03:49build his home where it pleased him, or find jobs for which he was qualified.
03:56He had been insulted, beaten, jailed, drenched with water, chased by dogs.
04:01But he was coming to Washington, he said,
04:03to swallow up hatred and love, to overcome violence by peaceful protest.
04:07Many people predicted violence.
04:11Negro groups trained themselves to overwhelm it.
04:15Armed with portable two-way radios,
04:17volunteers scattered throughout the march would keep watch.
04:21Should violence come then that day, they would call for help.
04:25Each man would have a code name.
04:28Freedom, Equality, Justice, Jobs.
04:33This is Freedom 2 to Equality 1.
04:37The Constitution of the United States guarantees every American
04:42the right to protest peaceably.
04:45200,000 Americans then are going to use this right.
04:51350 years ago, the white man came to America,
04:55and 350 years ago, the Negro came to America.
04:58The one came as master, the other as slave.
05:02100 years ago, Abraham Lincoln declared as President of the United States
05:07that all slaves would henceforward be set free.
05:11Now, both black and white Americans were preparing to march
05:15to say that a century later, the black man still was not completely free.
05:21If I am not free, you are not free.
05:24If one man on earth is partly enslaved, the world is not completely free.
05:28It was every man's duty then to help every other man.
05:34We need four people at table eight.
05:37In New York, volunteers worked for two days and two nights to make lunches for the march.
05:42They made 80,000 cheese sandwiches.
05:45We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome someday.
06:02Oh, deep in my heart, Lord, I do believe we shall overcome someday.
06:24The pen said, I march for jobs and freedom.
06:39Everyone who marched wore one.
06:41The 200,000 people who were to march that day were held together by the strength of that pen.
06:49This morning, Father, we asked if thou would hear the prayers of thy children everywhere.
06:56Those who are burdened down because of conditions here in America
07:04and those who are confused about how they should treat their fellow man.
07:11Oh, God, we ask for those who have hatred in their heart
07:14to touch their hearts right now, oh, Father,
07:17and somehow fill their hearts with love.
07:20And, oh, God, make this land in which we live
07:23be a land of plenty and a land of righteousness.
07:27Oh, God, may we recognize this land,
07:29a land of freedom for every race.
07:32Oh, God, may we believe in my heart
07:36I do believe we shall overcome someday.
07:46Oh, God, may we believe in my heart
07:52I do believe we shall overcome someday.
08:02Oh, God, may we believe in my heart
08:16I do believe in my heart
08:18Oh, God, may we believe in my heart
08:20Mm, hmm, hmm, hmmm, hmm, hmmm.
08:35Where are you going?
08:55Five, four, three, two, one.
08:59Testing, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.
09:08This is an audio test.
09:12One, two, three, four, five.
09:17Five, four, three, two, one.
09:24One, two, three, four, five.
09:31In the night few people had arrived.
09:35Negro leaders feared that their work had failed.
09:38Those who did come waited singing.
09:41Oh, deep in my heart you know that I do believe.
09:52Oh, we shall overcome someday.
10:00We are encouraged.
10:02We are not going to fight our white brethren with malice,
10:05nor are we going to fight them with any falsified stories,
10:08nor are we going to fight them with hatred,
10:11but we're going to fight them with love.
10:13When they hate us, we're going to absorb their hatred in love.
10:16When they speak against us, we're going to speak things of love toward them.
10:20We're not going to let their hatred turn us around,
10:22but we're going to love them on every side.
10:24Oh, I do believe.
10:29Oh, we shall overcome someday.
10:36Shake hands with the person beside you.
10:42Reverend, what about that trademark?
10:44Do you want to be free?
10:45Yeah!
10:46Do you want to be free?
10:47Yeah!
10:48Do you want to be free?
10:49Yeah!
10:50Do you want to be free?
10:51Yeah!
10:52Free!
10:53Free!
10:54Free!
10:55Free!
10:56Free!
10:57Free!
11:22Free!
11:25Free!
11:26Free!
11:27Free!
11:29Ah, yeah, you see you!
11:30Oh, we're the first.
11:32Oh, we're the first!
11:34Freedom.
11:35We shall not mean into.
11:38One other way to freedom
11:39we shall not quit.
11:40isme try and be.
11:41ese day by the water
11:44we shall not be hurt.
11:50We're almost there.
11:52All right, just pass them back.
11:56All right, I'll start on this side.
11:58All right, pass them down.
12:04You have any questions?
12:06Wake up, girl.
12:08Or anything that's bothering you,
12:10be sure you contact your captains for anything,
12:14and they will take it from there.
12:16Do not try to do anything on your own,
12:18because the minute you do,
12:20you will be upsetting the purpose of this march.
12:24The whole thing is an orderly conducted march.
12:40Hi! Hi, everybody!
12:42Hi!
12:44Mary!
12:46Maria!
12:48Maria!
12:50Maria!
12:52Maria!
12:54Maria!
12:56Maria!
12:58We are not afraid.
13:00We are not afraid.
13:04We are not afraid.
13:08We are not afraid today.
13:10We are not afraid today.
13:20Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe we shall overcome one day.
13:26We shall overcome one day.
13:38We shall overcome.
13:40We shall overcome.
13:42We shall overcome.
13:44We shall overcome.
13:46We shall overcome.
13:48We shall overcome.
13:50We shall overcome someday.
13:52Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe we shall overcome one day.
13:58Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe we shall overcome someday.
14:24Oh, deep in my heart.
14:26And I'm on my way.
14:28Oh, deep in my heart.
14:30I am on my way.
14:32And I won't come back.
14:34And I won't come back
14:37And I'm on my way
14:40And I won't come back
14:44And I won't turn back
14:46And I'm on my way
14:48And I won't come back
14:53And I won't turn back
14:55I'm on my way
14:58Take care, I'm on my way
15:02I'm on my way
15:05And I won't come back
15:08And I won't come back
15:09And I'm on my way
15:11And I won't come back
15:15I can't come back
15:17I'm on my way
15:19And I won't come back
15:23And I won't come back
15:24I'm on my way
15:26Say God, I'm on my way
15:31We call this section of our program to a halt
15:52and ask you to assemble in your respective groups
15:56and begin the march for freedom now.
15:59Let us begin quietly and orderly to move out,
16:04remembering that by your great numbers,
16:07you have forced a slow, dignified, and stately march.
16:12We'll see you at the Lake of Temori.
16:19I hope we see you on here.
16:22Very, very fine.
16:23We're going to wake up Lincoln,
16:24tell him to get up and stop patting his feet.
16:26We shall not be alone.
16:35We shall not be alone.
16:43Very nice.
16:44Thank you, everybody.
16:45Now! Now! Now! Now!
17:15Now! Now! Now!
17:20Freedom!
17:24Without a power!
17:28Now! What do we want now?
17:29Freedom! Freedom!
17:33Freedom!
17:35Freedom!
17:37Freedom!
17:39Freedom!
17:41Freedom!
17:43Every now and then
17:45we go!
17:47Freedom!
17:49Freedom!
17:51Freedom!
17:53Stand back!
17:55Move out of the way!
17:57Freedom!
17:59Freedom!
18:01Freedom!
18:03Freedom!
18:05Freedom!
18:07Freedom!
18:09Freedom!
18:11Freedom!
18:13Freedom!
18:15Freedom!
18:17Freedom!
18:19Freedom!
18:21Freedom!
18:23Freedom!
18:25I am the wrong people walking, walking, walking, walking, walking.
18:32I'm a demonstrating G.I. pop for a friend.
18:35The way to see my people makes me man.
18:38ают a territory for many miles.
18:43Hallelujah!
18:47The wrong people walking, walking, walking.
18:52Red, I see, yeah, do it over there, will you, so I can make it clear.
18:59Can I clap? Eddie, if you'd like to hear more, it'd be better.
19:03Can I clap? No, you can't see it.
19:06Okay.
19:07Ladies and gentlemen,
19:17your attention please. Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please.
19:32I would first like to congratulate all of you on the orderly, dignified manner in which you executed the march from the Washington Memorial.
19:45You have already told the world what we are here for and shown them by your courage, determination, and your order that we mean business.
20:00We will now be favored with a solo, Miss Marian Anderson.
20:07We would like to do for you a Negro spiritual, which has been the favorite of many audiences through the United States.
20:28At the piano is Mr. Thanks. We would like to do for you, he's got the whole world in his hands.
20:37He's got the whole world in his hands, he's got the big round world. In his hands, he's got the wide world. In his hands, he's got the whole world in his hands.
21:01In his hands, he's got the little bits of baby. In his hands, he's got the little bits of baby. In his hands, he's got the little bits of baby. In his hands, he's got the little bits of baby. In his hands, he's got the little bits of baby. In his hands, he's got the little bits of baby.
21:28hands he's got little bits of baby in his hands he's got the whole world in his hands
21:43he's got you and me brother in his hands he's got you and me sister in his hands he's got you
21:52and me brother in his hands he's got the whole world in his hands oh he's got everybody in his
22:02hands he's got everybody in his hands he's got everybody here right in his hands
22:19he's got the whole world in his hands
22:34i have the pleasure to present to you dr martin luther king jr
22:54you
31:36I think
31:38I think
31:40I think
31:42I think
31:44I think
31:46I think
31:48I think
31:50I think
31:52I think
31:56I think
31:58I think
32:00I think
32:02I think
32:04I think
32:06I think
32:08to be here
32:10thank you.
32:36This was a day of hope.
33:06This was a day of hope.