March on Washington 60th Anniversary Pop-up Challenge

Question

August 28th, 2023 is the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, one of the largest rallies for Civil Rights in American history. It is especially remembered for Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

In honor of this anniversary, the US Black Heritage Project would like to invite all WikiTreers to participate in a pop-up challenge to increase the CC7 and connect four people associated with the event. One was a featured musical performer and the other three were part of the "Big Six" - a group of six civil rights leaders who helped organize the March.

1. Mahalia Jackson (musical performance of "I've Been 'Buked and I've Been Scorned" and "How I Got Over"); starting CC7: 49
2. A. Philip Randolph (speaker, member of the Big Six and director of the March); CC7: 7
3. James Farmer (member of the Big Six and president of CORE); CC7: 2
4. Whitney Young (speaker, member of the Big Six and president of National Urban League); CC7: 183

You may also want to check out your connection to several other people associated with the March on Washington:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. (speaker, member of the Big Six, and president of SCLC)
• John Lewis (speaker, member of the Big Six and chairman of SNCC) 
• Roy Wilkins (speaker, member of the Big Six and president of NAACP)  
• Bayard Rustin (organizer of the March)
• Josephine Baker (speaker)
• Musical performers: Marian Anderson, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Paul Stookey and Mary Travers of the musical group Peter, Paul and Mary.
• President John F. Kennedy (met with leaders of the March)

Please answer below to let us know if you're participating in the challenge, if you get one of the four focus profiles connected, or if you have memories to share of the March on Washington.

Answer 1

Thanks, Christy, for getting this pop-up ready so quickly! I'll be adding a few profiles!

Comments

Thanks Gina!

Answer 2

I was afraid to commit because I am so busy, but I've started working on James Farmer.

Comments

Thanks Lucy! Every little bit helps!

Answer 3

I wondered if someone would do something for the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington. An excellent idea.

I wish everyone great sourcing and excellent connecting and exquisite profiles for this Pop Up Challenge. I don't think I would have the opportunity to help much though.

My top four connections are John Fitzgerald Kennedy at 19 degrees, Marian Elina Anderson and Paul Stookey at 22 degrees and Martin Luther King Jr. at 23 degrees.

Comments

Thanks Darren!

Answer 4

Very surprised (and proud) to learn that my grandfather was an eighth cousin of Coretta Scott King. I had no idea.

Thanks for the excellent Pop-up, Christy!

Comments

Thanks David! It's always fun to find connections like that :)

Answer 5

Thanks to everyone who participated in this pop-up challenge! Almost all of our focus profiles got at least a little bit of attention, with James Farmer having the biggest CC7 change, going from a CC7 of 2 to 26.

Please feel free to keep working on these profiles! These are some important civil rights leaders and it would be great to get them connected.

Answer 6

Thanks for pulling this together Christy.I have a packed schedule, but I will try to do what I can tomorrow, if it's not too late.

Comments

Thanks Denise! Definitely not too late :)