The Center Honors Women of the March on Washington with immersive performance
Last month, The Center’s Marketing Director Autumn Duncan, in collaboration with History Made By Us’s Cameron Katz, wrote an article for Teen Vogue highlighting the role of women in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The write-up featured many women of the March , yet focused on the efforts of Dorothy Height, the only female member of the “Big Six” March organizers, and Anna Arnold Hedgeman, the only woman on the event’s administrative committee.
The March aimed to establish a civil rights bill that would equally impact African American men and women. The bill’s goals included desegregating public facilities, integrating public schools, establishing voting rights for African Americans, and a federal ban on discrimination in employment. The March was effective and ultimately led to President Kennedy announcing plans for a comprehensive civil rights bill. Despite this critical accomplishment, civil rights leaders like Dorothy Height, Anna Arnold Hedgeman, Myrlie Evers, Daisy Bates, Diane Nash, and Gloria Richardson, who contributed significantly to the planning and execution of the March, are rarely mentioned in history books.
On May 17, 6pm at the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Atlanta, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights will present a theatrical re-imagining of the March on Washington to commemorate its 60th anniversary and give the women of the March some well-overdue recognition. The one-night-only performance called “Let Us March On…” recreates moments from the March and honors the women who made the event possible. Part of The Center’s annual Power to Inspire event, we will celebrate civil rights legend Mrs. Myrlie Evers-Williams who, because of traffic, didn’t make it to the original March. She will be front and center for our immersive performance.
“Let Us March On…” was written by acclaimed playwright and director Nikki Toombs and features an all-star cast that includes award-winning Broadway actress Maiesha McQueen as Mahalia Jackson, Brad Raymond as March organizer A. Phillip Randolph, and choreography by Victor Jackson. To be transported back to the event that gave birth to the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, join us for this joyous event by purchasing your tickets today!
Presented by the National Center for Civil and Human Rights as part of its annual Power to Inspire.