LIFE

56 years ago today - View of some of the leaders of March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom as they march with signs, Washington DC, August 28, 1963. Among those pictured are, front row from left, John Lewis, Matthew Ahman, Floyd B. McKissick, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Reverend Eugene Carson Blake, Cleveland Robinson, and Rabbi Joachim Prinz (in sunglasses). The march provided the setting for Dr. King's iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech. (Robert W. Kelley—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) #LIFElegends #ihaveadream #marchonwashington #MLK https://www.instagram.com/p/B1tXXMmAVZQ/?igshid=4t5l9l2iqix8

55 years ago today, The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. gave his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. He is pictured here waving to the crowds at the march. (Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) #LIFElegends #MLK #IHaveADream https://www.instagram.com/p/BnCCisjBeco/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4rlg05y8xyd4

LIFE legend Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee 50 years ago today on April 4, 1968. The photo pictured here is from the August 28, 1963 March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom. He was marching along side other leaders including Rabbi Joachim Prinz, Eugene Carson Blake, Floyd McKissick, Matthew Ahmann, John Lewis and others. (Robert W. Kelley—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) #LIFElegends #MLK

LIFE legend Martin Luther King Jr. was born 89 years ago today on Jan. 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. Today we celebrate his life and legacy with an official holiday marking his birth. He is pictured here in July 1960 leading a Civil Rights demonstration outside the GOP convention hall in Chicago, Illinois. (Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) #LIFElegends #MLK #CivilRights

54 years ago today, MLK gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. Pictured here is the legendary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressing the crowd during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963. (Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) #thisweekinLIFE #LIFElegends #MLK

Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. led a march on Washington. TIME talks to the people who shaped it — from civil rights leaders to Hollywood stars — and offers exclusive images from the era. Explore the history of the landmark ‪#‎OneDream‬ speech.