Broadway Answers Selma facts for kids

Broadway Answers Selma was a special concert held on April 4, 1965. It took place at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. The concert was a fundraiser. It helped raise money for the Civil Rights Movement. This movement worked for equal rights for all people. The concert happened after important events called the Selma to Montgomery marches.

What Was Broadway Answers Selma?

This concert was a big event. It raised a lot of money for important causes. The total amount collected was $150,000. This money went to several civil rights groups. These included the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) also received funds. Another group was the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

How the Concert Helped

The Mayor of New York, Robert F. Wagner Jr., bought the very first ticket. Tickets for the show cost between $5 and $1000. Part of the money helped the family of James Reeb. He was a minister and activist. He was hurt during the marches. Mr. Reeb was protesting for Jimmie Lee Jackson. Mr. Jackson had also been hurt earlier. Mr. Reeb's situation got more attention. Later, Mr. Jackson's name was added to the list of people the concert helped. The four main civil rights groups each received $24,500 from the concert's earnings.

Who Organized the Event?

The famous entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. organized this concert. He also produced it with Hillard Elkins. Sammy Davis Jr. was the host for the evening. The concert was held at the Majestic Theatre. This was the same theater where Sammy Davis Jr.'s musical Golden Boy was playing. The Shubert Organization, which owned the theater, let them use it for free.

Supporting Black Businesses

Sammy Davis Jr. wanted to help black businesses. So, he put $77,000 of the money raised into the Freedom National Bank. This bank was located in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. He did this two months after the concert.

A Rally Before the Show

Before the concert, a rally was held. It took place in Manhattan's Theater District. About 5,000 people attended this rally. Stars from the concert were there. Members of the New York City Council joined in. Even members of the New York Police Department participated. Everyone linked arms and sang "We Shall Overcome." This moment received a lot of attention from the news.

The Concert Experience

The concert lasted for over four hours. After the show, it was announced that a recording would be made. This recording would be shared by three major record companies. These were RCA Victor, Capitol, and Columbia Records.

Art for a Cause

Some famous artists donated their work. LeRoy Neiman and Andy Warhol gave artworks. These were meant to be raffled during the concert's break. However, there wasn't enough time, so the raffle didn't happen. Salvador Dalí also offered a painting. But he took it back because he wanted a guaranteed minimum price of $25,000.

What People Thought

Some people had comments about the concert. Jet magazine noted something interesting. They wrote that there were not many black people in the audience or performing on stage. A jazz magazine called Coda also shared its thoughts. It was disappointed that no modern jazz musicians performed at the benefit.

Performers at Broadway Answers Selma

Many famous people performed at this special concert. Here is a list of some of the featured performers. Their names were listed in an advertisement for the event in Billboard magazine: