March on Washington Movement facts for kids
The March on Washington Movement (MOWM) was an important effort in American history. It happened between 1941 and 1946. Leaders like A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin started it. They wanted to stop unfair treatment of African Americans, especially in jobs and the military. The movement aimed to make the U.S. government give African Americans fair job chances. It also pushed to end separation in the armed forces. This movement helped set the stage for later civil rights actions, like the famous 1963 March on Washington.
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Why the March on Washington Movement Started
The idea for the March on Washington Movement began in the early 1940s. At this time, the world was at war. America needed many workers to make weapons, build ships, and help with the war effort. Many African Americans wanted to help. But they were often turned away from these jobs. If they were hired, they were often paid less than white workers.
The main goal of the movement was to make the president stop unfair treatment in war industries and the government.
Who Led the March on Washington Movement?
A. Philip Randolph was the main leader behind the movement. He had help from groups like the NAACP and other civil rights organizations.
Randolph grew up seeing how African Americans were treated unfairly. He knew he wanted to make a difference. He had already formed and led the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters starting in 1925. His leadership in the March on Washington Movement came from his strong experience in organizing people and unions.
Randolph believed that African Americans deserved the same chances as everyone else. He also knew the government needed to act to stop unfair treatment. His idea was that if many people marched in Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital, the government would have to listen and make changes.
Big Changes Because of the Movement
To prevent the march, President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed to take action. In June 1941, he signed Executive Order 8802. This order stopped racial discrimination in defense industries. This was a huge step forward for equality. Because of this big win, Randolph agreed to cancel the planned march.
He kept the March on Washington Movement going. It helped to watch for progress and to push the government for more changes. The movement also made sure the Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC) did its job.
The MOWM continued to work until 1947. Its members worked with other groups to keep pressure on the government. In 1943, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9346. This order made the FEPC cover more federal agencies, not just those in defense.
Randolph kept promoting peaceful actions to help African Americans. Future civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and other young leaders were greatly influenced by his methods.
Later, President Harry Truman continued this progress. In July 1948, he signed Executive Order 9981. This order ended segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces.
These executive orders showed that people working together could bring real change. This happened even without needing big marches at that time.
Impact of the March on Washington Movement
Even though the march didn't actually happen, the March on Washington Movement was still very important. It showed that:
- People can make a difference: When people join together and speak up, they can change things for the better.
- Fairness is important: Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and have the same opportunities.
- Change takes time: Making things fair for everyone is a long process. But it's important to keep working towards it.
See also
In Spanish: Movimiento de la Marcha sobre Washington para niños
