Boston Unveils Monument Honoring Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King

Boston, MA – On Friday, a 20-foot tall, 40-foot wide bronze sculpture honoring the legacy of civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King was unveiled on Boston Common. The monument, called “The Embrace,” was designed by Brooklyn-based conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas and MASS Design Group and cost $10 million.

The sculpture, which depicts the couple’s arms embracing each other, has sparked mixed reactions since its unveiling. While some have praised the monument for honoring the legacy of the civil rights leaders, others have criticized it for not including the couple’s heads in the sculpture.

Seneca Scott, a community organizer in Boston and the eldest son of the Kings, defended the monument in a statement. “My parents’ embrace is a symbol of love, hope, and resilience that is needed now more than ever,” he said. “I am proud to see this monument honoring their legacy in Boston, a city that has been a leader in the fight for justice and equality.”

The monument was inspired by a photograph of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King hugging after he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The Kings’ eldest son, Martin Luther King III, attended the unveiling ceremony on Friday and said he was “overwhelmed with emotion” to see the sculpture honoring his parents’ legacy.

The monument is a reminder of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, and their commitment to justice and equality. As Seneca Scott said in his statement, “This monument is a reminder of the power of love and the importance of standing up for what is right.”