Chicago's A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum Celebrates Two Historically Significant Dates

Chicago, IL, July 22, 2013 --(PR.com)-- On Saturday August 24th and Sunday 25, 2013, the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum will host a series of events appropriately titled, "Honoring The Brotherhood." The events are a celebration of two historically significant dates in American history; the Founding Anniversary of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (AKA) Pullman Porters, and the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington. The August 25th event includes a precursor celebration to the actual August 28 anniversary date. A separate event honoring the historic date of August 28th is being planned by Museum 44 "Where Hip Hop Meets History" the youth and young adult program division of APRPP Museum.

In August of 1925, A. Philip Randolph founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters the first black labor union in America to be chartered, under the AFL and, the first to win a collective bargaining agreement, with a major US corporation—And of course the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington which needs no explanation. The celebratory weekend will culminate with a “GALA" on the grounds of the APRPP Museum. Newly elected 2nd Congressional district Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Illinois State Representative Elgie Sims will stop by to offer congrats and pre-dinner comments to guests attending the event.

On Saturday, the hours of the activities will be from 1:00 to 5:00p.m. Admission is free however, donations are appreciated. There will be Lectures, Music, Food, and Merchandise Vendors. On Sunday, the GALA will be from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m and the tickets are $50.00

It is a little known fact that it was A. Philip Randolph who conceived the idea of the 1963 March on Washington, a vision and a plan he created for a March on Washington in 1941, which was organized to protest against discrimination in the defense industries. That effort resulted in President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing Executive Order 8802— barring discrimination in defense industries and resulted in the creation of the Fair Employment Act. As a result of those actions, Randolph called off his proposed march. In 1963, Randolph unwrapped that plan and began assembling an organizing committee. Randolph paired his strategy with the organizing genius of Bayard Rustin, and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters as the initial foot soldiers and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

“We are all very excited about this year’s event,” says David A. Peterson Jr., president of the APRPP Museum. “We are humbled by the opportunity to celebrate these two historic events and we look forward to taking part in the August 28th event that is being produced by Museum 44, "Where Hip Hop Meets History" the youth and young adult division of APRPP Museum. It is only fitting that these events take place at the only museum in the nation that bears the names of A. Philip Randolph and the Pullman Porters."

For more information about the events visit the website at www.prpullmanportermuseum.org Or Contact Event Coordinator Pam Williams 708-705-0376