Chapter 22, The March on Washington, Summary and Analysis

Wilkins ousted Rustin from the planning of the March on Washington, as well as throwing out half the attendees at a strategy session, leaving behind only the leaders of the various civil rights organizations involved in the march. In public, Wilkins and King appeared united in the planning of the march; but in private, their rift remained. King, in the interest of keeping on the Kennedy Administration's good side, informed O'Dell that he should begin looking for a new job. However, King realized too late the firing O'Dell on his own schedule only served to cause him to lose standing rather than gain it. King turned his attention to Levison, who was out of the country at the time, but could not bring himself to oust him. King instead asked Kennedy for evidence...