60 years in the past, a determined group of activists convened in a Harlem brownstone and tackled a pressing dilemma. Their aim? Expose the rampant racial and economic inequalities plaguing the United States. Over the course of three months, they endeavored to devise an impactful solution.
The two chief orchestrators, A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, spearheaded the organization of a march on the nation's capital. Operating from an office on W. 130th St., they arranged transportation, established alliances with labor leaders, and enlisted speakers. Their event was named "The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom."
Civil rights leader, Rustin, was critical in the arrangements essential to the success of the 1963 March on Washington, long before Martin Luther King Jr. declared his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. That August, their call was answered by hundreds of thousands of Americans. They marched to Washington to demand both economic and racial equality. Together, they heard Dr. King sketch a blueprint for a fair society where the opportunities of America would be accessible to all citizens.
King’s inspired vision has continued to drive activists, organizers, schoolchildren, and leaders, including myself, as the mayor of New York.
Leaders like Rustin, who despite battling the double discrimination of being a black man and gay, showed us the path forward. The very idea that today, mere decades later, people of color, women, and the LGBTQ community hold powerful positions nationwide serves as a testament to our remarkable progress.
As the 60th anniversary of the march approaches, I plan to visit that historic Harlem brownstone from which this pivotal movement was born. I will commemorate it with a plaque recognizing its crucial impact on American history.
Yet, this occasion is not merely about celebrating the legacy forged by Randolph, Rustin, and King. It presents an opportunity to reflect on the compelling dream that King presented and the work remaining to realize that dream.
Despite our substantial progress since the march, the disparities that divide our nation remain glaring, obstructing our fundamental dictum of equality. Even since the 1970s, the unemployment rate among black Americans has consistently been nearly double compared to that of white Americans. And despite working the same jobs, black workers earn less.
Relentlessly striving towards economic and racial justice requires an acknowledgment of the evolving nature of our economy. The Coronavirus pandemic has underscored this need for change, having disproportionately impacted low-income communities and communities of color.
As the mayor, I have consistently promoted the need to address these deep-rooted disparities and commit to building a stronger, equitable economy. This necessitates a shift in traditional career pipelines that have perpetually neglected a significant portion of Americans.
During my tenure, I have directed considerable funding towards programs aimed at empowering our youth and have established an apprenticeship initiative connecting students to burgeoning sectors such as healthcare and technology.
Numerous minorities, particularly young ones, have gained access to good-paying jobs in critical industries through these initiatives. All these measures are aimed at restoring economic justice to communities and businesses who have historically been ignored.
As my tenure progresses, I plan to issue a city-wide racial equity plan laying the foundation for a more equitable city government.
60 years since Dr. King urged his audience to fulfill the promise of democracy, this iconic march's legacy still resonates, inspiring us to honor our progress, rectify remaining inequities and work together to realize the dream. As the mayor of New York, I stand committed to these ideals.
