Martin Luther King Memorial

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A towering new memorial was unveiled on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. this week. It honors the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) as a man of peace.

King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the nation’s capital on August 28, 1963. On that day, more than 100,000 people had come to Washington in support of civil rights.

“A Stone of Hope”

The 30-foot-tall sculpture was crafted by Chinese artist Lei Yixin. It was inspired by a line from King's famous oration at the Lincoln Memorial: “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”

The civil rights leader is depicted with his arms crossed, looking toward the horizon. He is the “stone of hope” emerging from a boulder — a “mountain of despair.”

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is seen at dusk ahead of its
dedication this weekend in Washington, Monday, Aug. 22, 2011.
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

A Historic First

King is the first person of color to have a memorial on the National Mall. The monument is surrounded by memorials to U.S. presidents — Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

"It's nicely situated between the Jefferson and the Lincoln Memorial, so it's part of that conversation," said Ed Jackson, the architect who designed the King memorial. "That corner of the mall has started to have a little bit of a theme about the ideas of our democracy between Jefferson, (Franklin D.) Roosevelt and now King."

Visitors to the site agree. “I think it's appropriate,” said Frank Myers, 49, of King George, Va. “His contribution was just as great as any of the presidents. This country's come a long way as a result of him and people like him.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech
at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. 
(AP Photo)
 

The words of Martin Luther King, Jr. are inscribed into the wall at
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Words to Know

civil rights – the rights of citizens to freedom and equality

democracy – government in which power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation

depicted – represented by words or art

monument – something that serves as a memorial, such as a building or statue

situated – placed in a location