Introduction
“I had a dream” is probably the most well know of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s many speeches.
The Monument
Our next stop on the tour of the Tidal basin is the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The memorial is 30 ft high, located between the Jefferson & Lincoln Memorials on the National Mall.
Dr. King appears to be stepping out of a mountain of stone. As you approach the Monument you pass through a cut between two large boulders. It made me think of psalm 23, “Yea though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death”.
The boulders are meant to represent the Mountain of Despair which has been split in two. Dr. King’s likeness emerges as if stepping from a solitary boulder, the Stone of Hope. On the visible side the words “Out of the Mountain of despair, a Stone of Hope” is carved into the stone. The phrase comes from Dr. King’s “I have a Dream” speech.
Some History
- It was 48 years after Dr King’s famous speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before the Dr. King Jr memorial opened. Originally scheduled for August 22, 2011 opening day was delayed by Hurricane Irene. It finally opened on October 16, 2011.
- There is a lot of negative press today around Sororities and Fraternities, but the driving force behind Dr King’s memorial was Alpha Phi Alpha, the fraternity that opened its membership doors to Dr. King.
- More than 900 applicants from 52 countries submitted bids to build the memorial.
- The address for the memorial is 1964 Independence Ave., referencing the 1964 Civil Rights act.
- The Cherry Trees are positioned so that it will appear that Dr King is gazing at them.
- The memorial is the fourth in Washington, DC to honor a non-president and the first to honor a man of color.
- Surrounding the statue of Dr. King is a 450-foot long Inscription Wall, which features 14 quotes from King’s speeches, sermons and writings. Quotes were chosen with Dr. King’s four main principles in mind: justice, democracy, hope and love.
Getting There
I reached the Memorial by taking a tour but if you are traveling on your own the site is accessible by either the Metro (subway) or Metrobus. If traveling by bus, use the 32, 34 or 36 Metrobus routes. The closest Metro stop is Smithsonian, on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines.
Conclusion
The stone of Hope, with Dr. King’s image standing boldly from its depths, is a message encouraging all citizens to forever strive for justice and equality. A message never more timely than today with violence in our cities, war in the world and rampart discrimination against immigration, especially Muslims. To borrow from a 60’s ballad (Where have all the Flowers gone), When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?