Chapter 19: Memory, History, and the March on Washington

Chapter Summary:

     This chapter illustrates the intellectual journey of a girl just becoming familiar with the fight for freedom, and her spontaneous attendance of one of the most influential events in history. For most of her childhood, the narrator was isolated from many of the social reforms going on around her, such as civil rights movements - once she went out on her own, she was drawn to the almost militarism of the civil rights activist movements, especially one known as the SNCC. She became involved with the younger generation of the more urgent, intense sense of freedom, sort of denouncing the elderly generation of solemnly following orders to get what you want. Although she respected Martin Luther King, she viewed him as "a cautious older leader," and "increasingly resented the tendency of reporters to focus on King rather than on student activism and SNCC's valiant campaign against hardcore racism." Throughout the chapter the narrator explains her growing appreciation of King, through the editing and reading of his works as well as a better understanding of the meaning of social justice and the fight for freedom. She realized that King's great gift as a speaker was his ability to transform traditional American values into "convincing, vivid portraits of a transformed world," which she grew to appreciate rather than to scorn, as she has witnessed "positive changes in the world that seem to give credence to King's hopeful vision."

Chapter Reflection:

     I felt that although she grew to know and appreciate her experience at the March on Washington, it seemed that she didn't talk much about her actual experience and her feelings during the event that she actually witnessed. I would like to hear more of a firsthand account of the event, it seems as though her comments are like something that anyone looking back through history might find. I enjoyed reading her journey through the understanding of what civil rights and social justice really mean, and the description of her feeling a part of the march was moving. I loved her last quote: "it was one of those exceptional moments when injustice seemed outnumbered if not subdued." No matter what way you might view the 'best way' to attack social injustice, the unity and accomplishment when the goal is achieved in some way feels the same.