60 years later, NJ man recalls attending MLK's 'I Have a Dream' speech: 'I was awestruck'

Clifton Arrington isn't sure whether he will go to Washington, D.C., on Aug. 26 for the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

"I'm thinking about it, but I'm not sure. I'm not too enthused these days about riding on buses ever since COVID," Arrington said. "If I don't go there, I will be there in spirit."

Then again, the 88-year-old Teaneck resident was present at the historic gathering when it happened on Aug. 28, 1963. An estimated 250,000 people, coming from across the country, marched from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial to call attention to joblessness and the lack of civil rights for African Americans.

The march was organized by famed union leader A. Phillip Randolph and longtime civil rights strategist Bayard Rustin. The speakers included civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., future U.S. Rep. John Lewis, and actress and singer Josephine Baker, one of only two women allowed to speak at the event. There were performances by several singers, including gospel star Mahalia Jackson and Bob Dylan.

Arrington was one of thousands of New Jersey attendees who were in the crowd that historic day, which was capped off by King's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. He still has his commemorative pin from the march.

In an interview, Arrington recalled not being able to get close enough to see King or the speakers who came before him. But he was happy to be part of the occasion.

"There was an overwhelming feeling of people joining together, coming together for a great moment in history, a great time in history where we're making this progress in history," Arrington said. "And we wanted to be part of it."

A day for inspiration — and racism

Arrington was a 28-year-old worker for the U.S. Postal Service when he traveled in the early morning from his home, then in Englewood, to his childhood church, Convent Avenue Baptist Church in Harlem. Outside the church, buses stood ready to make the 240-mile trip to Washington, D.C.

Arrington couldn't wait to get on board with his fellow passengers, who were also active in the civil rights movement. They wanted to be with like-minded souls who were optimistic about the movement.

"There was a feeling that we were moving forward, and we wanted to join that particular feeling with the multiples of people who came to show an outpouring of support for Dr. King and the movement itself," Arrington said.

Their buses arrived over four hours later in the hot and sunny midmorning and parked near the old D.C. Stadium. When Arrington exited the bus, he walked with a smaller group from his church.

On the march, Arrington witnessed some ugly pushback.

"There were some derogatory signs that were detrimental to Black people, calling them dogs, and 'No Dogs, No Blacks,' signs of that nature," Arrington said. "There was some yelling, but we didn't pay them any mind."

'I was awestruck'

When the group got to the Lincoln Memorial, it was too late to get a front-row view. Thousands stood ahead of them. Arrington and his group ended up on the far end of the memorial's Reflecting Pool. But he said it didn't matter.

"We were glad to hear everyone who spoke, like John Lewis, Josephine Baker and then Dr. King," he said. "It was like I was in a dream world, and I was among all these fantastic people who were doing things for humanity. I was awestruck."

When it was King's turn to speak, Arrington said, it was one of the "most special occasions" that he has experienced in his lifetime.

"He definitely had our undivided attention. We were just hanging on his every word," Arrington said. "It was monumental."

However, 60 years later, Arrington looks back at the speech and the March on Washington and feels that the optimism of that day has "disappeared." He cites attacks in recent years on the civil rights of Black people as well as other rights, such as those for voting and abortion.

More: 5 things you didn't know about the March on Washington and MLK's 'I Have a Dream' speech

"The struggle continues now, more than ever before. Before, we felt like we were on our way. Now, we have regressed," Arrington said. "We have to dig in, because there's a lot of work to be done."

Yet Arrington hopes that people will glean from that historic moment the importance of getting involved in some way to make the world a better place.

"The main thing is you have to be involved. You have to put yourself in the mix to be a part of a change in order for a change to happen," Arrington said.

Ricardo Kaulessar is a culture reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Atlantic Region How We Live team. For unlimited access to the most important news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com

Twitter: @ricardokaul

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: I Have a Dream anniversary: Teaneck NJ man recalls MLK speech