dr. king's ideals. dr. king believed that our destinies are all intertwined, and he knew that our hopes and our dreams are really all the same. he challenged us to see how we all are more alike than we are different. so as the bells of freedom ring today, we're hoping that it's a time for all of us to reflect on not only the progress that has been made, and we've made a lot, but on what we have accomplished and also on the work that still remains before us. it's an opportunity today to recall where we once were in this nation and to think about that young man, who 34 years old stood up here and was able to force an entire country to wake up, to look at itself, and to eventually change. and as we, the people, continue to honor the dream of a man and a movement, a man who in his short life saw suffering and injustice and refused to look the other way, we can be inspired and we, too, can be courageous by continuing to walk in the footsteps of the path that he forged. he's the one who reminded us that we will ne

dr. king is the only nonpresident to have a nation national -- the only nonpresident to be memorialized on washington's national mall. when dr. king's memorial opened just two years ago, the nation's first african-american president, well, he was there. he was watching. joining me now here in washington is host of cnn's new "cross-fire." congressman sheila jackson lee. thank you both for joining us. sitting here, two african-american men, as we are sitting here, i was telling one of our other anchors on cnn international, as i walked in this morning, i walked in with al roker who's a prominent national figure here, an anchor man here. i walked in with byron pitts. i walked in with you. i walked in with joe johns. and on and on. is this a fulfilling of dr. king's dream to have these african-americans in positions, visible positions? >> the war seems far away. the troubles seem far away. there's something sacred happening here. you're seeing these elderly african-americans, there was somebody --

dr. king's ideal. dr. ams are really all the same. he challenged us to see how we all are more alike than we are different. for as the bells of freedom ring today, we are hoping it is a sign for all of us to reflect on not only the progress that has been made, and we have made a lot, but on what we have accomplished, and also on the work that still remains before us. it is an opportunity today to recall where wre once were in this nation and to think about that young man who at 34 years old stood up here and was able to force an entire country to wake up, to look at itself, and o eventually change. and as we the people continue to honor the dream of a man and a movement, a man who in his short and injusticering and refused to look the other way, we can be inspired, and we, too, can be courageous by continuing to walk in the footsteps of the path that he forged. he's the one who remined us, that we will never walk alone. major after all, and injusticm for justice. so as the bells toll today, let us reflect o

dr. king's ideals. dr. g believed that our destinies are all intertwined, and he knew that our hopes and our dreams are really all the same. he challenged us to see how we all are more alike than we are different. so as the bells of freedom ring today we are hoping that it's a time for all of us to reflect on not only the progress that has been made, and we've made a lot, but on what we have accomplished, and also on the work that still remains before us. it is an opportunity today to recall where we once were in this nation, and to think about that young man with 34 years old stood up here and was able to force an entire country to wake up, to look at itself, and to eventually change. and as we, the people, continue to honor the dream of a man and a movement, a man who in his short life saw suffering and injustice, and refused to look the other way, we can be inspired, and we, too, can be courageous by continue ting to k in the footsteps of the path he forged. he was the one who reminded us that we will nev

every handshake from dr. kinge votes. daddy king prayed at the democratic convention, for quite a while, and coretta was in the hotel room with me and rosalyn when i was elected president. my presidential battle of freedom citation to coretta said he gazed at the great wall of segregation and saw that the power of love could bring it down. he made our nation stronger because he played it better.-- made it better. we were able to create a national historic site where dr. king lived, worked and worshiped. it is next door to the carter path.r linked by a walking there away try to make principles follow the same as theirs emphasizing peace and human rights. i remember the daddy king said too many people martin preyed on in truth he prayed for all people. he added it is not enough to have a right to sit a lunch counter if you can't afford to buy a meal. he also said the ghetto still looks the same even from the front seat of a bus. perhaps the most challenging statement of martin luther king jr. was, and i quote, the q

dr. king's phone.r after the march, just 10% of whites said mass demonstrations helped the cause of racial equality. and 81% of whites said demonstrations hurt the cause. history did not render its verdict on the march on washington overnight. it would take time, decades even, before the full meaning of the march became clear. joining me now is david ga rerks ll, he won the pulitzer prize on the book "bearing the cross." and gary young, nation author whose new book is called "the speech: the story behind martin luther king's dream." thank you both for joining me tonight. >> thank you for having me. >> david, we celebrate the march on washington, but tell us about the criticism. what was the reaction some might not have heard of? >> it's a tribute to the voting rights act of 1965, reverend that the sort of southern white segregationist opinion captured so powerfully in that old footage has virtually disappeared from american politics. and indeed virtually disappeared from american politics by the time t

what dr. king talked about. it was rooted in the american dream. we'll have more on that with you in a few minutes. >>> coming up, two rising stars in their respective parties, democratic mayor of newark, new jersey, cory booker, and republican governor of louisiana bobby jindal. what the american dream means to a new generation of politicians. >>> and later, we'll have the latest on the developing situation in syria. new developments this morning. we've got it covered. morning. we've got it covered. alert. the beach on your tv is much closer than it appears. dive into labor day with up to 50% off hotels at travelocity. it's delicious. so now we've turned her toffee into a business. my goal was to take an idea and make it happen. i'm janet long and i formed my toffee company through legalzoom. i never really thought i would make money doing what i love. [ robert ] we created legalzoom to help people start their business and launch their dreams. go to legalzoom.com today and make your business dream

dr. king's speech. dr. g wrote most of his speeches, i was honored together with the very dear, beloved friend of mine and a major adviser to him by the name of stanley levenson. periodically to provide suggested material, in connection with the speech he gave on the march on washington, i had provided him with a summary of ideas and summary of language that he had previously discussed. so it wasn't as if i was providing him with some creative ideas that were solely mine. i was more like a secretary who was summarizing and putting in the form that could be used for the speech, the opening paragraphs, little did i know, until i was sitting listening to him, i was standing some 50 feet behind him, when i was listening very carefully, i said, oh, my god, i guess he decided to use those opening paragraphs. to those paragraphs, which constituted the first seven paragraphs. to those opening paragraphs, he seemlessly added his own additional paragraphs, and it was when he was speaking his own additional paragraphs

dr. king. >> we made a lot of progress. back in 1963, charlie, let me tell you, i saw those signs that said white waiting, colored waiting, those signs are gone. we passed the civil rights bill. we passed the voting right act, the fair housing act. and when people say to me nothing has checked. i say come and walk in my scooz. >> we talk with jonathan rider, isabelle wilkerson, and clarence jones. >> the march was nmy view, the culmination of 100 years of frustration and despair. 1963 began with the centennial, the 100th anniversary of the emancipation proclamation. and that means that when these people came together, those quarter of a million people came together, they were in some ways representing all the hopes and dreams that had idea yt to be fulfull fulfilled. >> rose: the 50th anniversary of the march on washington next. captioning sponsored by rose communications from our studios in new york city, this is charlie rose. >> rose: we begin with john lewis. he is a congressman from georgi

if dr. king and dr.ld say they will charge us with facilitating the next generational shift. it has already been stated that as we look and listen on this day of commemoration and celebration,ll we have to do to know about what changes, is to look down pennsylvania avenue to the president of the united states. we know that their aspirations were not in vain. their coming together 50 years ago was a search for equality and peace. let us accept that charge also. thank you. >> our next speaker is the national president, miss margo copeland. >> good morning. we stand here today as the beneficiaries and inheritors of a dream it was bequeathed to us 50 years ago. one summer day in 1963 turned into a milestone in the advancement of the african-american community and the nation in general. dr. king's dream was aspirational and inspirational. it was a dream so big that he dared us. he challenged us to work toward the advancement and creation of better day and quality of life for all. history was for everyone rega

dr. king's book and transform words we have heard so many times into something unforgettable. "my country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee i sing. land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring." >> let freedom ring. the theme for today's event as the president prepares for this speech, he'll also be juggling everything else that is going on around the world. topping that list is syria. it appears the u.s. is moving closer to a military strike on syria. this morning, british prime minister david cameron said britain will offer a resolution at the u.n. security council condemning the chem wall weapons attack and vice president joe biden using some of the strongest language yet at an event yesterday. >> there's no doubt who is responsible for this heinous use of chemical weapons in syria. the syrian regime. the president believes and i believe that those who use chemical weapons against defenseless men, women, and children should an

if dr. king and dr.eight were here today, i would say they will charge us with facilitating the next generational shift. it has already been stated that as we look and listen on this day of commemoration and celebration, all we have to do to know about what changes, is to look down pennsylvania avenue to the president of the united states. we know that their aspirations were not in vain. their coming together 50 years ago was a search for equality and peace. let us accept that charge also. thank you. >> ? >> our next speaker is the national president, miss margo copeland. >> good morning. we stand here today as the beneficiaries and inheritors of a dream it was bequeathed to us 50 years ago. one summer day in 1963 turned into a milestone in the advancement of the african- american community and the nation in general. dr. king's dream was aspirational and inspirational. it was a dream so big that he dared us. he challenged us to work toward the advancement and creation of a better day and quality of life

dr. king's ideals. dr. reams are really all the same. he challenged us to see how we all are more alike than we are different. so, as the bells of freedom ring today, we are hoping that it is a time for all of us to reflect on not only the progress that has been made -- and we have made a lot -- but on what we have accomplished and also on the work that still remains before us. it is an opportunity today to recall where we once were in this nation and to think about that young man who at 34 years old stood up here and was able to force an entire country to wake up, to look at itself and to eventually change. and as we the people continue to honor the dream of a man and a movement, a man who in his short life saw suffering and injustice and refused to look the other way. we can be inspired and we, too, can be courageous by continuing to walk in the footsteps of the path that he forged. he's the one who reminded us that we will never walk alone. he was a drum major for justice. so, as the bells toll today, let

dr. king's phone.the march, just 10% of whites said mass demonstrations helped the cause of racial equality. and 81% of whites said demonstrations hurt the cause. history did not render its verdict on the march on washington overnight. it would take time, decades even, before the full meaning of the march became clear. joining me now is david ga rerks ll, he won the pulitzer prize on the book "bearing the cross." and gary young, nation author whose new book is called "the speech: the story behind martin luther king's dream." thank you both for joining me tonight. >> thank you for having me. >> david, we celebrate the march on washington, but tell us about the criticism. what was the reaction some might not have heard of? >> it's a tribute to the voting rights act of 1965, reverend that the sort of southern white segregationist opinion captured so powerfully in that old footage has virtually disappeared from american politics. and indeed virtually disappeared from american politics by the time that pres

what dr. king talked about. it was rooted in american dream. we'll have more on that with you in a few minutes. >>> coming up, two rising stars in their respective parties, democratic mayor of newark, new jersey, cory booker, and republican governor of louisiana bobby jindal. what the american dream means to a new generation of politicians. >>> and later, we'll have the latest on the developing situation in syria. new developments this morning. we've got it covered. the secret is out. hydration is in. [ female announcer ] only aveeno daily moisturizing lotion has an active naturals oat formula that creates a moisture reserve so skin can replenish itself. aveeno® naturally beautiful results. >>> the truth of the matter is that the dream still demands that the moral conscience of our country still calls us, that hope still needs heroes. we need to understand that there is still work to do. >> that was newark mayor and u.s. senate candidate cory booker speaking yesterday in front of the lincoln memori

i think we know how dr. kinguse] >> and i think we all know how king would have reacted to ave more than 835,000 african-american men in prison, ive times as many as when i left office and with one-third members rican-american being destined to being in their lifetime. there's a tremendous agenda to d of us and i'm thankful martin luther king jr. and his dream is still alive. thank you. [cheers and applause] >> and now, please welcome the of the united states, bill clinton. [cheers and applause] >> thank you. mr. president, mrs. obama, carter, vice president biden. -- i want to thank my great friend king and the ce king family for inviting me to observationhis 50th of one of the most important american history. phish randolph. john lewis, dorothy heights. daisy bates and all the others knewed there massive march what they were doing on this hallowed ground. of lincoln's burning memory of the fact that he gave his life to union and end sla martin luther king urged his crowd not to drink , but he cup of bitterness

dr. king called america the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today. he was right. and still is today. when profit motive and property rights are considered more important than people, he said, militarism is incapable of being conquered. a true revolution of values will look and easily on the glaring contrast to party and well. thise revelation will say way of settling differences is not just. american can lead the way in the revolution of values. no document can make these humans any less of our brothers. the true meaning of compassion and non-parlance is when it helps us to see the enemies point of view. there is nothing to prevent us from re- ordering our priorities. the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war. let us practice what they -- >> ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the national but justice coalition -- of the national black justice coalition. >> one of my mentors told me in order to truly be free, you must give to causes greater than yours

dr. king's speech, nothing was really ever the same. within months, the civil rights act was passed, followed the next year by the voting rights act. king won the nobel peace prize in '64. he was assassinated in '68. as president obama praised peace today, he also prepared for war. the pentagon is awaiting the president's order to retaliate against the syrian dictatorship for what the u.s. says was a poison gas attack on syrian civilians. the president talked about his plan this evening in an interview with the pbs newshour. >> if we are saying in a clear and decisive but very limited way, we sent a shot across the bow saying "stop doing this" that can have a positive affect on our national security over the long term and may have a positive impact on the sense that chemical weapons are not used again on innocent civilians. >> pelley: the chemical weapons attack killed more than 300 people last week, mostly women and children. the syrian dictatorship has been fighting a popular rebellion for two years. david martin has the latest develop

dr. king's speech, as well in its entirety. nd msnbc is lucky enough to play the entire speech because the king estate owns the right to this video. it has a copyright on it until 203. and this is why so many people have not seen it unflip theed. nothing in the middle, just the purity of the speech itself. and i myself as one of those people included in that. >> yeah, it was remarkable. i just watched it on our air just now and i've read it a bunch of times. i think i've seen it once or twice before. >> i've reenacted it in school place. but to see it on that screen with no break, we've seen it in documentaries sliced and diced but to pull it in the way we've been able to do today and at 8:00 with you i think is remarkable. >> and there's a bunch of things that come out of it when you watch it all in its entirety. one of them is the amazing interplay he has back and forth with the crowd. there's even a few lines almost biting. they're get a little ripple of laugh of recognition from the crowd and you can see there's a brief mome

dr. kinghistorians agree set in motion a revolutionary movement, one which lead to the march on washington. tonight the story of the letter from a birmingham jail. >> when you were coming to birmingham in 1963, you were coming to ku klux klan country. birmingham had nor unsolved bombings of negro homes and churches than any other city in the nation. the ku klux klan and racial segregationalists were not about to let some negro preacher from atlanta or some group of demonstrators either in birmingham or outside the state to come and change their way of life. this is our place. this is our power. how dare you come in and want to take -- share our power from us. >> it was some very dark days in birmingham, alabama. >> in birmingham then the police fear. >> they had intimidated the working black people, and dr. king knew that. the movement was stagnated. it was dead. >> i'm going to say to you, wait a minute birmingham, somebody birmingham. >> dr. martin luther king was invited to come to birmingh

dr. king's family as well as others. mike viqueira is there live. he joins us now. so much history on that site, and also an indication that so much has changed. >> reporter: you're absolutely right, del, you may notice a my it contraband umbrellas sprouted in the crowd. they were not supposed to be brought through security, but the lucky few who got them through. you may her the cheers behind me, 50 years to the day this began in washington. this began with a commemoration, a religion service, and shiloh baptist church. there was a march on the other end of the war down to the lincoln memorial. we've heard a number of speake speakers. >> we're obviously having difficulties with the situation down there on the mall. one of the people who has addressed the mall today is the reverend joseph lowry, do we have his sound? >> we come here to washington to say that we'r we ain't going ba. we ain't going back. we've come too far, marched too long, prayed to hard, wept to bitterly, bled too profusely,

dr. king's unfulfilled dream, economic inequality and the working poor, and this discussion is sponsored by the good jobs nation. i have in front of me about 12 talking points that were handed me. they might cause your eyes to glaze over. i will try to humanize these talking points. one of them is we should not forget it years ago, march on washington was about jobs, just as much as it was about freedom and equality. matter of fact, five of the 10 the original demands, and most people do not remember after doc dr. king's iconic speech, which was not in the text of the written speech, philip randolph stood up and gave up five -- 10 that demands. there were 10 at demands that were read to the crowd. they were aimed at reducing economic inequity, securing good jobs and livable wages. that was 50 years ago. 50 years later, at the core demands of economic equality remains of the pope. the average income of white families is $89,000 vs 49,004 african americans and latinos. the wealth that -- gap is

dr. king spoke number ten. and out of the ten people that spoke that day, i'm the only one still around. >> congratulations. >> what's that? >> congratulations. >> thank you very much. >> it was a great moment in american life. >> you were his friend? >> yeah. i got to know dr. king. i met him in 1958 when i was 18. but i first heard of him when i was 15 years old, in the 10th grade. we worked together. we marched together. we got arrested together in selma, alabama. >> have you ever heard this story before? >> yes, i have. >> you have? >> i watched it on tv. >> you did? >> so you know about the sit-ins? the freedom ride? >> yeah. >> people marching for the right to vote? you know, i was on the march from selma to montgomery. i was beaten. on march 7th, 1965, a group of us, about 600 people, black and white, many young people, some people who had just left church, decided to march from selma to montgomery, about 50 miles away, because people of color, black people in alabama, couldn't register

dr. king's children.ntil then, good night, and as always, keep the faith. >> for more information on today's show, visit tavis smiley at pbs.org. tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley. join me next time for a conversation with about the life and legacy with dr. king. that is next time. we will see you then. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> be more. pb >> welcome to "film school shorts," a showcase of the most exciting new talent from across the country. experience the future of film next on "film school shorts." "film school shorts" is made possible by a grant from maurice kanbar celebrating the vitality and power of the moving image and by the members of kqed.

dr. king's dream and his lasting legacy this afternoon. >> on a hot summer day they assembled here in our nation's capital under the shadow of the great emancipator. everyone that realizes what those glorious patriots knew on that day that change does not come from washington but to washington. that change has always been built on our willingness, we, the people, to take on the mantle of citizenship, you are marching. that's the lesson of our past. that's the promise of tomorrow. >> okay, bob, you were particularly moved by this speech as you were by dr. king's speech so many years, 50 years ago. >> yeah. i think if dr. king had been alive today, listened to these tributes, i think he would have been -- first of all, he would have been amazed there was a black president, but i think obama did exactly the right thing. i think he talked about change coming from the grass roots into washington, not the other way around. i know there's been a lot of controversy about washington dictating from here

dr. king preached about, this moment has been a long time coming but a change has come. >>> 50 years ago tonight, reporters filing stories on a demonstration in washington noted three things. it was peaceful, it was far larger than anyone expected. and a young preacher departed from his planned text. those unplanned sentences have never been forgotten. >> nbc news presents the march on washington. >> i have a dream. >> 50 years later, the dream lives on. >> it was in the middle of battles to break down the walls of apartheid in america. >> martin luther king jr. made a speech, but he also delivered a sermon. >> my father watched from the white house as dr. king and thousands of others recommitted us to higher ideals. >> injustice is injustice everywhere. >> he gazed at the wall of segregation and saw that the power of love could bring it down. >> martin luther king jr. did not live and die to hear his heirs whine about political grid lock. >> the arc may have bent towards justice, but it doesn

jones who was the speech writer for dr. king, who helped him write that speech did not include the i have a dream. it happened towards the end of the speech the great gospel sunger mahalia jackson shouted to dr. king to tell people about the speech. dr. king nods off camera and then delivers an ad lib speech. folks are very enthusiastic. they are glad to be a part it. even though the weather is not cooperating. >> the rains are coming, indeed. ron mott, thank you. "the washington post," as was recognized by the post itself this past weekend barely mentioned the reverend king speech because he was the last speaker. they had gone to to press and it was not really notable to a lot of reporters who were covering it here in washington, d.c. you've been following this from our bureau in washington. all of these reflections of history come together. identify talked to jesse jackson today and he said this is the moment where president obama needs to do what lbj did and set out a legislative mandate for the dream and that voting rights i

and dr. kinglained that the goals of african-americans were identical to working people of all races. decent wages, fair working conditions, livable housing, old age security, health and welfare measures, conditions in which families can grow, have education for their children, and respect in the community. what king was describing has been the dream of every american. it's what lured for centuries new arrivals to our shores. and it's the second dimension of economic opportunity the chance through honest toil to advance one's station in life with the goals of 50 years ago have fallen most short. yes, there have been examples of success within black america that would have been unimaginable a half century ago. but as has already been noted black employment has been remained almost twice as high as white employment. latino unemployment close behind. the gap in wealth between races has not lessened, its grown. and as president clinton indicated, the position of all working americans, regardless of co

dr. king's work is his son, dr. martin luther king iii, reflecting earlier on how much work we still have to do to achieve his father's vision from 50 years ago. let's take a listen. >> the vision preached by my father a half century ago was that his four little children would one day live in a nation where they would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. however, sadly, the tears of trayvon martin's mother and father remind us that far too frequently, the color of one's skin remains a license to profile, to arrest, and to even murder with no regard for the content of one's character. >> let's bring in our guests this afternoon. stan was here 50 years ago as a member of the original local organizing committee for the march in 19 63. he's also the author of "the edge of politics." edith lee payne attended the march on her 12th birthday 50 years ago with her mother. this iconic photo of her as a young girl will dprfr be part of our history. and eugene robinson, a pulitzer priz

dr. king's speech which subsequently has passed on to me. my mother was among the 200,000 people who joined dr. martin they were inspired by the march on washington and dr. king's speech which subsequently has passed on to me. my mother was among the 200,000 people who joined dr. martin luther king on the march on washington 50 years ago and stood up for the rights for freedom.as a teenager growing up in washington as a teenager growing up in washington dc, she and her church did people demonstrations leading up to the march in washington where they would go in front of the white house. you have to remember, the time. this was the time they would go there and racial epithets were thrown at them and people would come up and spit on them and they had to practice turning the other cheek. a very very scary time.but both of my parents, made me fully aware of the importance of that speech and importance of education and but both of my parents, made me fully aware of the importance of that speech and importance of education and the future of black a

dr. king's message. we would be doing dr. king a real disservice if we didn't point out the income inequality and the injustices in our finances in this country. this weekend, americans marched for jobs and justice just as they did 50 years ago. the theme of 50 years ago rings strong to this day. you cannot deny the facts as the president said, black unemployment is almost double the rate of white unemployment. voting rights obviously are under attack. public education is under attack. disturbing stories about racism that just seem to be coming at us every day. i think it's fair to say our nation has moved forward a great deal. but we have been moving in the wrong direction on some issues. as of late. the culmination of all of this? key provisions of the voting rights act were overturned by the supreme court in june. there is very little doubt since president obama has become president elected in 2008 that racial tension is on the rice in this country with radical groups that are out there. the birth of tea party has played a

he was a good friend of dr. king. he joined dr. draft the civil rights act and the voting rights act of 1965. it was in 1977 that he was confirmed ambassador to the united nations. our chris matthews is standing by with our coverage and watching just there. chris, what did you make of how ambassador young did? he got the crowd going singing front and back there. i thought it was interesting, though, probably the most known line for mlk he quoted was the ark of the universe is long but it bends toward justice. >> well, there is so much -- first of all, when you reach a certain age like he has, the ambassador, i guess you can let it hang out a little bit. that guy is totally cool. i mean, he wasn't afraid of his singing voice which is, obviously, very good. the black church obviously played a big part in the big speech here 50 years ago. my country 'tis of thee. martin luther king started off his speech talking about five score, years ago which is a hundred years, using the language of abraham lincoln of the gettysburg address. going