The Spirit Bus to Washington
Saturday August 24th, 2013, thousands gathered in Washington to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, to celebrate and continue the work inspired by Dr Martin Luther King's call to the nation with his dream of civil rights for all.The Spirit Bus from New York to Washington
Lorraine Brown, a veteran of the first Civil Rights march on Washington. She celebrates her 81st Birthday next month!
Praz Boszanova - DC's All Original Music: R & B, Jazz. "Will you take our photo?" "Will you sing me a song?" They were good!
His mother marched with this sign 50 years ago . . .
Prayer time . . .
The march was organised by Martin Luther King III and the Rev Al Sharpton of the National Action Network. * * * * *
The shots of the News8 twinkie amongst the marchers is wonderful juxtaposition. Patti, you rock.
I saw her standing there!
wonderful series !!!
Thank you so much Pat! I tried so hard to get a more panoramic shot of the crowd but those spots were off bounds!
Stunning photos. Moving. Thanks for being there.
Thank you Pierr, it was such a privilege to have been there!
Sometimes the dreams convert in true.
As usual, good shots Patti, they are full of strenght.
Sometimes they do indeed come true, thank you so much HG!
An awesome Blog and a Great picture story in the advancement of civil rights.
Thank you Tex, we’re all in this together!
You are such a talented photographer! Thank you for sharing!
And you are too kind! Thank you so much!
Wonderful reportage photography of the event. Thank you for sharing with us.
My absolute pleasure to share, thank you so much Lignum!
beautiful! and there’s still a lot of marching to do…
Never seems to stop does it? Thank you Inge!
Fabulous shots! Even in the crowd scenes, individuals stand out as individuals. Excellent Patti!
Thank you Elena, it was a brilliant crowd!
Saw a few union labor posters. Workers of all groups are the new oppressed. No health care, no pension, no sicks days, no paid vacation, $10 an hour, take it or leave it.
With everyone working under the remit of part-time work!
Amazing reportage. Thanks Patti. We are faced with an election here in Australia where the latest poll seems to indicate we will get an extreme right wing Government. Abbott is promising us more independent schools for the rich, less money for the underprivileged . A free and open slather for the captains of industry. He wants to build a nation of “leaders” not “leaners”. Yah, right, 24 million leaders, all at each others throats.
Keep the photos coming Patti!
And soon we could all be at war with Syria . . .
These are incredible shots Patti- you capture the ultimate humanity of the moments…the two that just reached out and grabbed me are “thinking” and “in arms we trust”…there is something about age and youth-
Age and youth . . . and all the many hopes and dreams we invest in and pass on!
Excellent series of shots Patti. I feel like I’m in there with them.
Thank you David! I am not sure how many thousands attended but somehow it all felt so “local” – with room for everyone!
Really moving photos. I’m so glad you got to go and share them with us.
Not only was it good being there, it was also good to be on the bus where several people spoke about their memories of being there 50 years ago and the work that needs to continue. The love and welfare of community is a huge driving force and I think that sometimes gets lost in big cities – not by the people in the communities who have to scream, shout and holler to be heard!
I saw The Butler last night. It’s hard to believe we’re still struggling with these issues, but I guess that’s better than not struggling with them. Great shots, as always, Patti.
I can’t wait to see The Butler and as you say Charles, better to struggle than to ignore! What irritates me is that with so many new fresh struggles some of the old ones just won’t lay down and die!
Great shots, as usual. I particularly love the one with the 50 year old sign that the man’s mum marched with!
It was a very popular sign what with so many people lining up to be photographed with it! I was rather envious, in my jumping to high conclusion way that I often do, in that he had a mother who not only marched but had probably not moved house that much either ie I like to think this sign has been tucked away safely for the last 50 years in either a basement or an attic!
Any time you wanna come and check out my garage for old signs et al, you are welcome.
It’s like you were among families at a wonderful reunion! I can imagine the powerful feelings permeating through the crowds: love, fond memories, courage, pride. You must have been awestruck to be there! Thank you for taking us along with you!
Annie, that’s exactly how it felt and yes, I was awestruck to be there. As ever Annie, thank you so much for coming along!
Stunning documentary work Patti.
Miss Brown does certainly not look her age!
Great!
Miss Brown knocked us all down with a feather when she told us her age! You should hear her speak – she has so much to say and says it so well!! Thank you so much Daan for kind words!
Its good that she is still around to tell her story firsthand!
Wonderful set as always – I really love the second shot featuring the news presenter – that is an absolute corker of a shot, twenty-first century documentary at its best. As someone above said, Patti you rock!
Thank you so much Richard! That shot (thanks to @tomwisk it will forever be “News8 twinkie” – I could never have come up with that!) is one I call a magnetic camera shot in that I wasn’t really as aware of taking that one as I had been of others. Plus, without the luxury of time, you don’t get to over think it! Hope this makes some sense . . .
It is good things have improved the last 50 years. A very good series from the occation, Patti!
Incredible isn’t it to think back on what used to be . . . . Thank you Bente!
How many roads most a man walk down
Before you call him a man ?
…
Bob Dylan – Blowin’ In The Wind
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Beautiful.
Thank you so much Karen.
I’m sorry for sounding like a broken record, but I’m always so very impressed by your ability to focus on / find such powerful details in a reportage-type situation like this… when there is just so much happening at once. I would be overwhelmed… but you always tell tell these stories so well, Ms. K! Wonderful!
You are always so kind with your generous and most encouraging comments, thank you SiG!
Please know ho much I always find these situations overwhelming, not to mention the fear of perhaps “missing out” on something, decisions to make and different directions to take. Agony! Somehow you end up jumping in and going with the flow!
I am SO jealous you got to go!!!! I would have loved to see Obama give a speech. BEAUTIFUL day in DC! AND FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY!
Yes, it was a beautiful day and such a surprise bonus that I was able to go. A 4.00am start? I can do that! Sadly, Obama was elsewhere that Saturday and scheduled instead to speak at the commemoration ceremony of the official date, the 28th. He was very much there in spirit!
How amazing I’m sure Martin would have NEVER thought on the 50th anniversary the Black President would be speaking. Looks like everyone had a good time. I’m a bit jealous I couldn’t go. 😦 POOR ME LOL
Some might argue what took so long, let alone the wait for a female to be in office but I know what you mean! 🙂
Also, you are young enough to have the 100th Anniversary to go to! 🙂 🙂
way to go Patti- wish I could’ve been there.
It’s the thought that counts, thank you John!
great mood and everyone seems excited and happy 🙂
That was indeed the day, thank you Joshi!
You Rock Patti. Sittling here bawling as I scroll through your wonderful feed! Would loved to have been there too. Just shared on my FB page.
For you MBL, thank you!
Thanks! That hit the spot.
Incredible series of images. I’d love to have commented on them individually, but I can’t see a way to do it. (New to WordPress and not finding it all that intuitive!) I’m so glad you and your camera were there. Super stuff.
Thank you Dee and so lovely to meet you! It was such a hot day so the shots were on a see-saw between bright sun and intense shade. As for the comments, I suspect you were not able to comment because I posted them as a standard set and not in a gallery. I think! Will go and investigate and thank you so very much for your kind and thoughtful words!
we do not have enough persons like the German protester Martin Luther or the American Dr. Martin Luther King. Or Nelson Mandela. Or Edward Snowden (?) – typical reaction, if we have a genius person: a large part of the crowd (and of the administrations) are against it …
Lucky you Patti! These great men – King and Gandhi and Mandela – and their movements have always fascinated me. To be part of a commemoration connected with any of them would be thrilling! Thank you for taking us along 🙂
A fabulous documentary … my favourite is “nice work if you can get it done” 😀
There are many great shots here. Please excuse me for being away so long. Good for you for documenting this so well.