On June 11, 1963, President Kennedy spoke to the nation in a Television and Radio Report to the American People on Civil Rights, laying out his position on civil rights. In response to mass arrests of protesters and increasing violence, President Kennedy took a strong stand in support of equal rights.

They hoped that the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom would help achieve the goal of equal rights and economic justice for all Americans. In an effort to galvanize the movement, leaders from difference civil rights organizations joined forces to plan a massive peaceful protest that would take place on August 28, 1963, in the nation’s capital. and other civil rights leaders, led thousands of people to organize protests, sit-ins, boycotts, and other actions to make it known that they were not willing to accept unfair treatment any longer. Local and state government officials enforced segregation.īefore and during Kennedy’s presidency, a growing number of people, black and white, young and old, wanted to end segregation and used civil disobedience and non-violent actions to challenge discrimination. Bathrooms and water fountains were labeled “White” or “Colored.” The facilities for white people were often newer and nicely kept while the facilities for black people were not well maintained. When he took office, public places in the South such as playgrounds, amusement parks, and stores had signs that said “white only.” There were movie theaters, bus stations, and restaurants that had separate sections for black people. The struggle for equal rights began many decades before John F. They should be familiar with different types of letters, specifically, business letters.

Students should have basic knowledge about the civil rights movement.

write a letter to President Kennedy in the role of a civil rights leader.

analyze and interpret a photograph to discover information about a historical event.

How can primary sources such as photographs and letters help us to understand the past? They then take on the role of a civil rights leader as they write a letter to President Kennedy requesting to have a meeting on the day of the March on Washington. In this activity, students act as historians as they analyze a photograph taken at that meeting and reflect on the significance of the March. But they may not realize that the leaders of the March arranged to meet with President Kennedy in the White House on the day of the March. gave his historic speech on August 28, 1963, at the march on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Kennedy Presidential Library and MuseumĬlick here to download this lesson plan, including handouts, in pdf format.

I have a dream speech text for students