On August 7 at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, director George C. Wolfe participated in a Clips & Conversation panel moderated by MSNBC’s Jonathan T. Capehart. The story chronicles the life of openly gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, whose contributions to the March on Washington and the movement had been largely erased. EBONY June cover star Colman Domingo headlines in the title role alongside an all-star cast that includes Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Jeffrey Wright, Audra McDonald and more. Rustin premieres on Netflix on November 17.
In 1963, nearly 250,000 people descended on the National Mall in Washington D.C., for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Organized by civil rights leaders, labor unions and other advocacy groups, the historic event highlighted the urgent need for racial and economic justice through desegregation, equal employment opportunities and voting rights. It’s one of America’s most important movements in the fight to end racial inequality.
As the nation gears up for the March on Washington’s 60th anniversary on August 28, here are three more films and series you can watch about the march that changed America.
The March (1963)
From the National Archives of the United States, this 30-minute documentary is told through the eyes of young men and women, Black and white, who bravely traveled from all corners of the country to “overcome hatred by peaceful protest.” It presents actual footage from the event, which includes Marian Anderson singing the Negro spiritual “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” and commentary by civil rights leader A. Phillip Randolph.
The March (2013)
Image: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Directed by John Akomfrah and narrated by Denzel Washington, The March: The Story of the Greatest March In American History, is a one-hour documentary released as part of the March on Washington’s 50th commemoration. The film features interviews with key leaders involved with the march, including John Lewis, Julian Bond, A. Philip Randolph and Andrew Young. It also shares commentary from celebrities who supported the civil rights movement, such as campaigners Harry Belafonte, Diahann Carroll and Sidney Poitier.
Eyes On The Prize: No Easy Walk (1961-1963)
This PBS series revisits many of the famous actions that took place during the height of the Civil Rights movement, including United States House of Representatives leader John Lewis’ speech during the March on Washington. “We want our freedom and we want it now,” said a then 23-year-old Lewis, foreshadowing his life-long fight for equality across the nation.
