Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
The sheer size of the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial communicates the significance we give to this man’s life. He was a giant among men, and the artist captured that truth in the scale and presence of the monument itself. Marty and I visited this soon after it was completed and I remember how striking it was to see his likeness rise so powerfully from the stone.
The memorial stands along the Tidal Basin in Washington, positioned among other major national monuments. At its center is a 30 foot sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr, emerging from what is called the “Stone of Hope”, a massive piece of granite that appears to be carved out from a larger formation behind it: the “Mountain of Despair: This design was inspired by a line from his famous “I Have a Dream” speech: “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope”
After years of planning, fundraising and design, the memorial was officially dedicated in 2011 by Barack Obama. Dr King is depicted standing with arms crosses, looking forward. There is conviction in his presence which reflects the role he played during the Civil Rights Movement.
The scale, the setting and the design of this memorial reflect a life that carried enormous weight and a legacy that continues to stand as firmly.
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