March on Washington Movement facts for kids

The March on Washington Movement (MOWM) was a major civil rights effort that took place from 1941 to 1946. It was organized by activists A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. Their goal was to pressure the U.S. government to give African Americans fair job opportunities and to end segregation in the military.

The movement planned a huge protest march in Washington, D.C. during World War II. This threat of a mass protest got the government's attention. In response, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802 in 1941. This order banned unfair treatment in defense factories and created the Fair Employment Practices Committee to investigate discrimination. Because of this victory, Randolph called off the first planned march.

Even after this success, Randolph continued to use nonviolent protests to fight for the rights of African Americans. His ideas and methods later inspired famous leaders like Martin Luther King Jr..

Why the Movement Started

Life in America Before the War

As the United States prepared to enter World War II, the country was still dealing with the effects of the Great Depression. New jobs in defense factories were opening up, but these jobs mostly went to white workers. African Americans faced widespread discrimination.

Many companies refused to hire Black workers for skilled jobs. For example, in 1940, the president of a major aircraft company said it was against their policy to hire Black people as mechanics. At the same time, the government was asking all Americans to help defend democracy against Nazi racism in Europe. African Americans found it unfair that they were asked to fight for freedom abroad while facing injustice at home, especially in the South under Jim Crow laws.

The Goal of the March

The March on Washington Movement aimed to force President Franklin D. Roosevelt to act against this job discrimination. A. Philip Randolph, the leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters union, was the main organizer. He had years of experience organizing working-class people.

Randolph believed that the movement should be led and funded by African Americans. He famously said, "If it costs money to finance a march on Washington, let Negroes pay for it. If any sacrifices are made for Negro rights in national defense, let Negroes make them." This showed his desire for the movement to be independent and powerful on its own.

Leadership of the Movement

A. Philip Randolph's Role

A. Philip Randolph's leadership shaped the entire movement. He grew up hearing about the struggles of Black people from his father, who was a preacher. This inspired him to focus on grassroots activism, which means organizing regular people to create change.

After President Roosevelt signed the executive order, Randolph made it clear the fight was not over. On September 26, 1942, he said the war must bring an end to old systems of power and profit, or it "will have been fought in vain."

Women in the Movement

Women played an important part in the MOWM. The Women's Auxiliary, made up mostly of the wives and relatives of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, was very active. They helped raise money and organized community events. Their work was key to building support for the movement's goals.

Timeline of Key Events

Before 1941, civil rights leaders tried to convince President Roosevelt to desegregate the military, but he did not take action. On September 27, 1940, Randolph and other leaders met with the president. They demanded that Black soldiers be fully integrated with white soldiers. The White House refused, and the military was not integrated until 1948 by President Harry S. Truman.

Since meetings weren't working, Randolph proposed a march on Washington in January 1941. Organizers planned for the march to happen on July 1st and expected up to 100,000 people to join.

Just one week before the planned march, the mayor of New York City told the MOWM leaders that the president was going to act. Roosevelt agreed to sign Executive Order 8802, which banned discrimination in defense industries. With this major victory, Randolph canceled the march.

The MOWM continued to hold rallies and push for more change. It remained active until 1947, working to make sure the government followed through on its promises. In 1943, Roosevelt issued another order, Executive Order 9346, which gave the Fair Employment Practices Committee even more power.

The Role of the Media

The African-American press played a huge role in the movement. At first, some Black newspapers were doubtful. The Chicago Defender wondered if even "2,000 Negroes would march."

But as the date for the march got closer, the tone of the newspapers changed. They began reporting on the growing support. The Amsterdam News in New York City ran a headline saying, "100,000 in March to Capitol." The newspapers helped build excitement and pressure, making the threat of the march seem very real.

See also

In Spanish: Movimiento de la Marcha sobre Washington para niños