It's time for a serious discussion on why progress on civil rights and economic justice stalled and reversed since the demands of the 1963 March on Washington were made:
THE RIGHT TO VOTE
1963 – Voting Rights Act passed in 1965.
Today – U.S. Supreme Court strikes down key provisions of to the 1965 Voting Rights Act on June 25. Several states immediately enact laws to suppress voting.
THE RIGHT TO A JOB
1963 – A federal program to guarantee the right to a job. Unemployment is 5.4%. Black/White Unemployment Ratio: 2.2 to 1
Today – Full employment programs not even talked about in Washington. Unemployment is 16.2% (counting involuntary part-timers). Black/White Unemployment Ratio: 2.1 to 1.
THE RIGHT TO LIVING WAGES
1963 – A $2 minimum wage, or $15.26 in 2013 dollars.
Today – A $7.25 federal minimum wage.
THE RIGHT TO DESEGREGATED SCHOOLS
1963 – 76.6% of black children in majority black schools. Black majority schools get less funding.
Today – 74.1% of black children in majority black schools. Black majority schools still get less funding.
Good background reading for this discussion:
Economic Policy Institute's analysis of where we are on the economic demands of the march, "The Unfinished March:" http://www.epi.org/publication/unfinished-march-overview/
Final Organizing Manual of the 1963 March (with sponsors, call, and demands):
http://www.crmvet.org/docs/moworg2.pdf
On Randolph/Rustin/King post-march effort to get Congress to pass programs to realize the economic demands:
Paul LeBlanc, "Freedom Budget: The Promise of the Civil Rights Movement for Economic Justice," The Journal of Law and Society, March 2013 (available online).
Paul LeBlanc and Michael Yates, “Toward a New Freedom Budget: The Day After the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom," CounterPunch, Aug. 16, 2013, http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/16/the-day-after-the-march-on-washington-for-jobs-and-freedom/