Today marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington. President Barack Obama and others will speak on the National Mall to mark the occasion. MPR News will air live coverage starting today at 1pm.

We wanted to mark today's historic anniversary with music. While many of the battles for equal rights have been won, the struggle for equality and racial harmony continues to this day in our country. For the 9:30 Coffee Break, we're putting together a playlist we're calling Songs Of The Struggle. We want to assemble a wide array of musical responses to the ongoing fight for racial equality - be they hopeful, angry, proud, or inspirational - from across the eras. Let's create a brief snapshot of the day's emotions and historical context today.

We're gearing up for our Coffee Break on the Road this Friday. Tune in Friday to find out who won this month's Coffee Break with Peace Coffee, treats from Salty Tart and music by The Ericksons.

Songs Played:

Bob Marley and the Wailers - "Redemption Song"

Public Enemy - "Fight the Power"

Sam Cooke - "A Change Is Gonna Come"

Mavis Staples - "Eyes on the Prize"

James Brown - "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud"

The Impressions - "People Get Ready"