This coalition of leaders , who became known as the `` Big Six '' , included : Randolph who was chosen as the titular head of the march , James Farmer ( president of the Congress of Racial Equality ) , John Lewis ( chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee ) , Martin Luther King , Jr. ( president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference ) , Roy Wilkins ( president of the NAACP ) , and Whitney Young ( president of the National Urban League ) .
Other leaders of civil rights movement helped Randolph plan the march and spread the word to their members . Some of the most important were James Farmer , ( president of the Congress of Racial Equality ) , John Lewis ( president of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee ) , Martin Luther King , Jr. ( president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference ) , Roy Wilkins ( president of the NAACP ) , and Whitney Young ( president of the National Urban League ) .