By State Representative, Leon D. Young
Leon D. Young
Last Sunday, August 28th, marked the 48th anniversary of Dr. King’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech that was delivered on the National Mall back in 1963. This year’s observance was supposed to take on even added significance with the formal unveiling and dedication ceremony of the MLK Memorial but, unfortunately, the advent of Hurricane Irene temporarily postponed this epic event.
The importance of the Dr. King Memorial cannot be overstated. Dr. King becomes the first non-president and Black American to have his memorial likeness erected on the great National Mall. The King Memorial overlooks the Tidal Basin midway between the Lincoln Memorial and Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Visitors walk through a pair of granite masses, signifying the “mountain of despair” in King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech before reaching the “stone of hope,” a 30-foot likeness of the civil-rights leader gazing into the distance.
Back in 1963, a quarter of a million people gathered at the Tidal Basin to hear Dr. King’s iconic speech, in which he defined the civil rights struggle and gave impetus to a nation. Likewise, thousand had of Americans and people from all over the world had planned to be in attendance for this oncein- a-lifetime dedication, but Mother Nature threw a monkey wrench into the scheduled plans.
I wonder what Dr. King would do and say in the wake of the GOP’s systematic dismantling of the civil rights tenets he fought and died for: workers rights, fair housing, public education, voter’s rights and racial discrimination. He must be spinning in his grave!
The King Memorial is the culmination of fifteen years of planning and cost $120 million to bring to fruition. Master sculptor Lei Yixin of China, who created the memorial has said, “Martin Luther King is not only a hero of Americans, he also is a hero of the world, and he pursued the universal dream of the people of the world.” From all indications, this is a “must-see” experience for the entire family and a fitting tribute for Dr. King.