(photo: Archives Foundation)
Fifty years ago, on August 28, 1963, America witnessed a March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, led by a man who had a dream and shared it with the world on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) recognizes this important milestone because the deaf and hard of hearing community is no stranger to the fight to end injustice.
On that historic day, Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke passionately and eloquently against rampant racism in America and challenged the everyone “to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.” He emphasized that there must be unity and perseverance, saying, “We cannot walk alone. As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, ‘When will you be satisfied?’”
Fifty years later, we are still not satisfied as civil rights are still trampled for too many people. The NAD stands with Martin Luther King, Jr. as America remembers this important day and continues to march against racism and other forms of discrimination.
President Benro Ogunyipe of the National Black Deaf Advocates shares his passion for this occasion, “The 50th Anniversary March on Washington that will take place on August 28, 2013 will be a tremendous celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream of justice, and reminds us that we must continue this fight for equality. In honor of Dr. King and the historic Marches in 1963 and again in 2013, we all must assume the mantle to pave the way for all Deaf people including Deaf people of color to attain their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
To honor this anniversary, several NAD staff members will be joining the march on Wednesday, August 28th, 2013. Let us know if you plan to join us via @NADTweets on Twitter, @NAD1880 on Facebook/Instagram!
NAD President Chris Wagner invites you all to, “Join the 2013 march and relive the 1963 route of Dr. King and other brave people who believed in the dream of equality. We must join forces to turn that dream into a reality of equality!”
For a comprehensive outline of events in the DC area this weekend: www.mlkdream50.com or http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/50th-Anniversary-Of-The-March-On-Washington.htm
The NAD was established in 1880 by deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and to have its interests represented at the national level. As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing Americans. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad, covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more.
(photo: Huffington Post)