Martin's Dream Day

K-Gr 3—This photographic journey chronicles the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Tretick's photos, many of which were taken during the actual march, are a display of the expression and energy of the event and the people who attended. Kelley briefly uses the first half of the work to place King, the civil rights movement, and the steps leading up to the day (including President John F. Kennedy's involvement and Congress's resistance) into context. Then comes a retelling of the rally (Camilla Williams's singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," King's impromptu decision to set aside his prepared speech, etc.). The emphasis on how long King had to work to come to this pivotal moment ("He had traveled 275,000 miles that year and given 350 speeches") will aid students in understanding the breadth of the civil rights movement.