Youth March for Integrated Schools (1959) facts for kids

Youth March for Integrated Schools was the second of two important marches held in Washington, D.C.. This march took place on April 18, 1959, at the National Sylvan Theater. An estimated 26,000 people attended. The march was a follow-up to the first Youth March from the year before. Its main goal was to show strong support for efforts to end racially segregated schools across the United States.

Many important leaders spoke at the event. These included Martin Luther King Jr., A. Philip Randolph, and Roy Wilkins. Other civil rights leaders like Daisy Bates, Harry Belafonte, and Jackie Robinson also shared their thoughts. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech was very powerful. He told the young people that they had learned a key truth about America. He said that for all Americans to have true democracy, Black Americans needed full equality. This showed how important the march was.

Why Young People Marched

To encourage people to join, flyers titled "Why We March" were posted. These flyers aimed to get young people involved. The flyers stated, "We march to protest the century-long mistreatment of Negro citizens. They have waited long enough. We march to demand real democracy--now!" This message clearly showed the urgency of their cause.

The Importance of Youth Action

Information about this march was also shared in Martin Luther King Jr.'s book, "The Papers of Martin Luther King." In his writings, King explained why it was so important for young people to lead this march. He believed their participation would make a big difference. This march truly showed how much African American youth wanted to fight for integrated schools. They wanted schools where all students, no matter their race, could learn together.

See also

• List of protest marches on Washington, D.C.