Unveiling of Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Triggers Controversy

By Emily Francisco 

On August 22, the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial officially opened to the public. A project over 25 years in the making, its unveiling was laced with controversy and public dispute over its design.

Located at the edge of the Tidal Basin, the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial is situated between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. Critics note that King’s statue is nearing 30 feet tall, whereas Lincoln’s and Jefferson’s are merely 19 feet. Looking back at the history of the King project, there is plenty of other material for critics to pick at as well.

The project officially began in 1984 as an idea discussed in an Alpha Phi Alpha chapter located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Later in 1996, President Bill Clinton approved the proposal to create a Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in Washington, D.C. For the next ten years designs were discussed and voted on by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission.

Finally, in February 2007 Lei Yixin, a Chinese sculptor, was chosen to take on the project of the twenty-eight foot tall statue of King. Many citizens complain that an African-American, or at least American, sculptor should have been chosen. Furthermore, the granite chosen for the sculpture by the committee was a “buff-colored stone” only available in China, which only angers critics more, who call this action “outsourcing.”

Site preparation didn’t begin until Summer 2008 and was only completed this past July. The total cost for the project was a hefty estimate of $120 million. The intent was to dedicate the memorial on August 28, but in anticipation of Hurricane Irene the dedication was postponed to October 16.

At the main entry, visitors walk through the “Mountain of Despair,” a pair of two stones out of which a wedge has been pushed out to the center of the memorial. This wedge of stone represents the “Stone of Hope” and depicts King with crossed arms, gazing out at the horizon. The design was inspired by part of King’s most famous “I Have a Dream” speech: “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”

Meandering around the space is an inscription wall, displaying fourteen of Dr. King’s most memorable quotes. The design team chose not to feature his “Dream” speech on the wall; they wanted to focus on King’s other but lesser known words of inspiration.

Critics note that the contours of the “Mountain” are “cartoonish” and appear artificial. More importantly, they say, King’s facial expression is not calm and pensive, as the architects intended; he looks stern and overly confrontational.

One journalist of the New York Times wrote that to use the “Stone of Hope” quote makes “no real sense,” as the metaphor is “not one of King’s best.” Its enormity along with King’s posture, he says, makes the minister seem like an authoritarian figure.

Part of the mass debate may stem from the sense of ownership many citizens have over their memories of Dr. King. Famed writer Maya Angelou complained that one of the quotes chosen for the wall makes King look like an “arrogant twit”; the mentioned quote reads, “I was a drum major for justice, peace, and righteousness.”

It is important to note that there are still very few traditional statues of blacks in the U.S. today; this one was bound to incite arguments. Still, the question is left to the viewer: Would Martin Luther King, Jr. feel honored by his memorial?