St. Louis Community College staff and faculty recently traveled with representative from the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis to participate in the 50th Commemorative March on Washington in Washington, D.C.
Genesis Steele, Terry Freeman, Linda Collins, Annie Wagganer gathered with thousands of people to commemorate the anniversary. The group of 46 departed Aug. 22, took part in marking the historic anniversary on Aug. 24, and returned to St. Louis on Aug. 25.
“Being a participant in the 2013 commemorative March on Washington was a unforgettable experience. It was an honor to march alongside coworkers and thousands of others who came together to advocate for positive change in our respective communities," said Steele, acting director of the African-American Male Initiative program at STLCC. "Whether you were representing voting rights, social justice, jobs, or education, it was exciting and exhilarating to be among those who stood together in the continuation to keep the dream alive.”
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Fifty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963. The largest civil rights rally ever, “The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” was a call to action.
“There was excitement and collective cheers. We sang songs as we marched and took pictures of signs that reminded us of all the various groups that support civil rights,” said Wagganer, sociology instructor at STLCC. “We are not a fringe group, we are the masses. The atmosphere was thankful and respectful. It was historic.”
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Wagganer was reluctant to go at first because she didn’t think she could afford the time away from the office. Then her mind went to all of the assigned readings on her syllabus, which includes the words and thoughts of so many prominent civil rights leaders.
“I thought about the context of the March on Washington and how I teach about systems of oppression and privilege,” she said. “I thought about being a co-advisor for the STLCC-Florissant Valley Social Justice Club. There was no way I was going to turn down this opportunity to walk my talk.”
At the march, leaders spoke about their moral obligation as members of their communities to come together to help support one another.
“I also had a great history lesson from former Urban League CEO, James Buford, about the civil rights movement and its impact on the City of St. Louis,” Wagganar added.
The event was sponsored by the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, Martin Luther King III and the NAACP. A group of dynamic speakers, including King, Sharpton, Attorney General Eric Holder, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Rep. John Lewis spoke from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech 50 years ago.
“While so many things have changed for the better, there are still opportunities for improvement,” Steele said. “My dream is that people will not make rash decisions or stereotypes based on fear, or skin color, or ethnicity, but take the time to get to know the individual.”
Established in 1962, St. Louis Community College is the largest community college district in Missouri and one of the largest in the United States. STLCC has four campuses – Florissant Valley, Forest Park, Meramec and Wildwood – that annually serve more than 81,000 students through credit courses, continuing education and workforce development programs. For more information about STLCC, visit www.stlcc.edu.