50 years: Benjamin Mays' Benediction

Benediction at the 1963 March on Washington for Peace and Freedom, given by The Rev. Dr. Benjamin Mays:  

Dr. Benjamin Mays was a lifelong civil rights leader and educator, and President of Morehouse College for over 20 years (including the years when Martin Luther King, Jr. was an undergraduate).  This prayer reflects the times past, and yet is still profoundly relevant, as we try to honor the legacy and continue to work for equality and respect for all people.

Let us bow our heads in prayer.

God of history and of all mankind. God of Abraham and Moses, Amos and Isaiah, Jesus and Paul. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears pour thy benediction upon the United States of America.

 Pour it out upon President Kennedy and the members of his cabinet upon whose shoulders the destiny of all mankind may rest. Pour it out upon the nine Justices of the United States Supreme Court who need wisdom to interpret wisely and courage to hand down just decisions. Pour out thy benediction, God, upon the members of Congress, who need wisdom, courage, a sense of justice, deep faith in democracy and an abiding faith in their God to enact legislation that will further implement American dreams.

 Here we are, God, one hundred-eighty million people, one hundred years after Lincoln freed the slaves, ninety-eight years after the close of a bloody civil war, fought to preserve one nation under God, indivisible. One hundred eighty-seven years after Jefferson declared that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

 Here we are God, confused, baffled, floundering, afraid, faithless, debating whether the Congress of the United States should pass legislation guaranteeing to every American the equal protection of the law. Debating whether its business should have the right to discriminate against a man because thou, oh God, made him black.

 In peace and in war thou hast blessed America as the nations of the earth look to the United States for moral and democratic leadership. May we not fail them, nor thee. Please God, in this moment of crisis and indecision give the United States wisdom, give her courage, give her faith to meet the challenge of this hour. Guide, teach, sustain and bless the United States, and help the weary travelers to overcome, someday soon. Amen.

(found at http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/march-777724-bayard-rustin-reads-the-demands-of-the-march)