Question

On October 16, the national memorial for Martin Luther King Jr. will be officially dedicated. The event was rescheduled from August due to Hurricane Irene. Because schools are back in session, the original attendance estimate of 250,000 has been lowered to 50,000. The four-acre park has been open to the public since August.

The site of the memorial is along the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. It is the first memorial for an African American within the National Mall and the first major monument for someone other than a president. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech provides the inspiration for the park’s design. The 30-foot statue of King shows him emerging from a block of stone, a reference to his hope for “hew[ing] out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” Fourteen more quotations from other of King’s speeches are inscribed along a 450-foot wall. The address of the memorial is 1964 Independence Avenue, a reference to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The design of the memorial has stirred some controversy. One criticism is that the sculptor is Chinese, and the stone used is from China. Critics also say that one of the most prominent inscriptions misrepresents King’s view of his role within the civil rights movement. The controversial inscription reads, “I was a drum major for justice, peace, and righteousness.” It is a paraphrasing of a longer passage in which he theorized about his possible eulogy. Detractors believe that the rewording gives King a sense of arrogance that he did not possess. The designers of the project, however, stand behind their decision to shorten the quotation in order to make it more prominent within the space provided.

Despite the controversy over the design, many visitors to the site feel that it is an important and moving reminder of the accomplishments of Dr. King. 3 lined personal thoughts.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

1. The rescheduling of the dedication event is unfortunate, but understandable considering the impact of Hurricane Irene. It's disappointing that the attendance estimate had to be lowered due to schools being back in session, but it's still important to have a significant presence there to honor Dr. King.

2. The location of the memorial, between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, is powerful and symbolic. It highlights the importance of King's legacy and his impact on American history, placing him among other influential figures.

3. While there may be controversy surrounding the design of the memorial, it's ultimately subjective. Some may appreciate the use of a Chinese sculptor and stone from China, while others may prefer it to have been more representative of African American art and culture. The important thing is that the memorial serves as a reminder of Dr. King's message and the fight for civil rights.