Mahalia Jackson’s place in history would have been secured even if she had not been present on August 28, 1963, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., thanks to the strength of her musical legacy.
Mahalia Jackson, however, is best remembered for taking the stage at the historic March on Washington on August 28, 1963, where she not only sang as a prelude to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his “I Have a Dream” speech but also actively contributed to making it one of the most significant and enduring in American history.
Who was Mahalia Jackson to Martin Luther King?
Jackson met and befriended Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Alabama, and she would support him throughout his career.
Indeed, if Martin Luther King Jr. had a favorite opening act, it was Mahalia Jackson, who played beside him on numerous occasions. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. requested that she sing the gospel classic “I’ve Been ‘Buked, and I’ve Been Scorned” before giving the final musical performance before Dr. King’s speech on August 28, 1963.
