Review: Like a Mighty Stream: The March on Washington, August 28, 1963 by Patrik Henry Bass

Title: Like a Mighty Stream: The March on Washington, August 28, 1963
Author: Patrik Henry Bass
Publisher: Running Press
Publication Date: October 7, 2002
Edition: Hardcover (160 pages)
Genres:

• Nonfiction
• Civil Rights
• African American History
• United States History

Like A Mighty Stream: The March On Washington by Patrik Henry Bass

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


August 28, 1963 was a most significant day in the history of the United States. People from all over the country came to Washington D.C. to march for jobs and freedom and to support civil rights legislation. Rich, poor, black, white, male, female, young and old, came together as never before in our history. Patrik Henry Bass chronicles the march on Washington in great detail. He brings together events of the march, itself, the thoughts and actions of some of the participants, and the historical context leading up to that day. And, in so doing, history and the events of that day are woven in to an event that rallied many to the cause of civil rights in a way that had never been seen or experienced before.

This account of the march had many personal echoes for me, as well. As a little white girl about the start 1st grade, I was home with my dad watching television. It was a hot summer day. We had no air conditioning, and the floor fan was on high speed, close to the TV. I liked to get as close to the television as possible, so I could hear every footstep and nuance of sound. When the coverage of the march began, I was totally astounded that people had to "march" just to get the things I took for granted in my world. We were by no means well off, financially, but I had enough to eat. I had nice clothes to wear. I would be going to a newer school in a nice neighborhood. I knew a little about being treated differently, sometimes, because I am blind, but I had no idea that people were treated differently, just because of the color of their skin.

During the TV coverage of the march, as we watched, I peppered my dad with questions. How could this be? Weren't these folks Americans just like us? Didn't they live in houses, just like us? Why couldn't they vote like you and mom? Why couldn't they go to the dime store and eat at a lunch counter like we could? Why were so many poor? Why couldn't all children go to the same schools? On and on. It was so perplexing to me. I felt surprise, anger, and absolute shame that I had so much and these people didn't have the same rights as me and my parents. I told Dad, and later, Mom, that when I grew up I was going to do something that would help people. It was my first exposure to activism, the need for social justice and the need for change. I didn't decide to go to law school right then, but that day changed my life and put me on my future path to law school and government service. I'm retired now, but social media is my platform to continue to speak out. I can still feel the emotion of that day as it emanated from the television screen and the commentator's voices--and the speeches. I can still hear, in my mind, the voices coming together and the words of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Truly a life defining and life changing moment for me which still brings tears to my eyes, even today. We've come far, but we have so much more that needs doing.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the events of that day. What I find so unique about it is the way it combines the events of the day with the chronology leading up to it. If I could give it ten stars, I would do so. I also recommend it to anyone who is tired of fighting the good fight--to anyone who is discouraged about our back slide since 2017. One theme Mr. Bass remarks on and emphasizes over and over is "we shall overcome." We have. We must. And, we shall continue to overcome.