Today, as thousands of people come to Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, we wanted to share a powerful quote from King on the dignity of work:

So often we overlook the worth and significance of those who are not in professional jobs. Of those who are not in the so-called 'big jobs.' But let me say to you tonight, that whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth.

Watch the video of this speech in the post, and follow the hashtag #MLKDream50 for live updates from the march. 

Aug. 28 is the official anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. To celebrate that half-century anniversary, civil rights, labor, faith and other groups are holding a weeklong series of events that started Wednesday in the nation’s capital under the banner of “Freedom, Jobs, Peace and Social Justice.”  

Many of the events will take place on the National Mall, including the Aug. 24 “Realize the Dream” march and rally, the Aug. 25 Global Freedom Festival and the Aug. 28 “Let Freedom Ring” commemoration and call to action ceremony.

Click here for a day-by-day schedule.