March on Washington – A demonstrator holds a protest sign at the rally.

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Color photos from 1963 march18 photos

Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – Musician Odetta Holmes plays a song during the march.

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Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – King stands with Rabbi Joachim Prinz, center, by his side.

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Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – The crowd cheers during the event.

Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – Demonstrators crowd together as they listen to civil rights speakers during the rally.

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Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – A woman attends the rally.

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Color photos fromfrom left, Whitney Young Jr., Martin Luther King Jr., Walter Reuther, Eugene Carson Blake, and John Lewis stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the march.

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Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – Demonstrators gather around the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial before the beginning of the march.

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Story highlights

King almost didn't talk about "the dream"

Women had to fight to be included on the speakers' platform

Having Hollywood stars attend helped ease Kennedy fears about march

"I have a dream this afternoon that my four little children will not come up in the same young days that I came up within, but they will be judged on the basis of the content of their character, not the