A statue of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, named “The Embrace,” was unveiled on Boston Common on Friday, inspired by a photograph of King and Scott King, which captured them hugging after he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
However, the statue, which is 20-foot tall, and 40-foot wide, has sparked controversy as it only depicts the couple’s arms in the embrace and not their heads, causing criticism and mockeries online.
Some people defend the sculpture, while others describe it as disrespectful and compare it to a sexual act. Martin Luther King III, son of the couple, has stated that he likes the statue and believes it represents bringing people together.
After the unveiling of a statue honouring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King on Boston Common, where King gave a speech in 1965, backlash ensued.
The 20-foot tall, 40-foot wide statue, named “The Embrace,” was based on a photograph of the couple embracing after King’s Nobel Peace Prize win in 1964.
The sculpture, created by Brooklyn-based artist Hank Willis Thomas, has sparked controversy as it only depicts the couple’s arms in the embrace, not their heads.
The sculpture has been met with criticism, with some calling it disrespectful and others mocking it online, comparing it to a sexual act.
Seneca Scott, a community organizer in Oakland and cousin of Coretta Scott King, has described the statue as an “insult” to his family and a “masturbatory metal homage” in an essay for Compact Magazine.
He further stated to CNN that it is not only the missing heads that are the issue but also the shape of the sculpture, which he described as a “stump that looked like a penis” and a “joke.”
On Monday, Martin Luther King III stated that he is grateful for the statue representing his parents’ love story and partnership. Despite some negative reactions, he told CNN’s Don Lemon that he likes the statue and believes it represents bringing people together.
He praised the artist and stated that while the statue does not depict his parents’ images, it represents something that brings people together and that symbols that promote unity are important in today’s divisive times.
Additionally, Martin Luther King III acknowledged that art can be interpreted differently by different people and that some may not understand the meaning behind the statue.
He urged people to look at the statue with an open mind and to see it as a symbol of love and unity instead of focusing on the missing heads.
He also emphasized that the statue was created to honour his parent’s legacy and their impact on civil rights and equality.
Overall, he urged people to appreciate the message behind the statue and to celebrate the love story and partnership of his parents, Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
On “CNN This Morning,” Thomas said that his goal for the statue was to capture the feeling of love in the Kings’ relationship and that he has no plans of changing it.
He explained that the statue was selected by the people of Boston and that thousands of people were involved in its creation, and no one had seen it from a “perverse perspective.”
He also pointed out that other monuments, such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Washington Monument, have faced criticism in the past and that “The Embrace” is just another example of this.
In his newsletter, Thomas stated that the statue was not only a monument to Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King but also a monument to love and the power it holds.
Embrace Boston, a racial and economic justice group and non-profit organization behind the creation of the monument, declined to comment on the criticism and referred to King III’s comments.
The group’s website states that the statue is intended to inspire visitors to reflect on the values of racial and economic justice that both Kings espoused.
Furthermore, Thomas also stated that he intended for the statue to be a symbol of hope and unity and that it was created with the intention of bringing people together.
He acknowledged that some people might not understand or appreciate the statue, but he hopes that it will inspire visitors to reflect on the values of racial and economic justice that both Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King advocated for during their lifetime.
The Embrace Boston group said the statue was created to tribute to the legacy of both Kings and their contributions to the civil rights movement and racial and economic justice.
They hope that the statue will serve as a reminder of the important role that love and unity can play in bringing about social change.
While the statue “The Embrace” was created to honour the legacy and the love story of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, it has sparked controversy due to its design which only depicts the couple’s arms in the embrace and not their heads.
The artist, Hank Willis Thomas, stated that his goal was to capture the feeling of love in the Kings’ relationship, and he has no plans to change the statue.
Martin Luther King III praised the statue and sees it as a representation of bringing people together.
While some may not understand or appreciate the statue, it is a reminder of the important role that love and unity can play in bringing about social change.
It is up to each individual to look at the statue with an open mind and appreciate its message.
