Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
"True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice."
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is the newest addition to the collection of memorials on the National Mall. Dedicated on October 16th, 2011 (the 16th anniversary of the 1995 Million Man March in Washington), the stone structure exemplifies the fundamental values of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during his quest for civil rights; freedom, democracy, and opportunity for all.
The national memorial stands 30-feet high and consists of three granite pieces. Inspired by Dr. Kings “I Have a Dream” speech where he says “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” A figure of Martin Luther King is carved into the “Stone of Hope” which stands past the “Mountain of Despair.” Visitors to the memorial literally pass through the “Mountain of Despair” signifying the struggles faced by Dr. King during his life. The memorial is positioned on four beautiful acres in the southwest corner of the Tidal Basin, and is surrounded by cherry trees that will bloom every year to adorn the anniversary of Dr. King’s untimely death.
Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the face of non-violent activism in the civil rights movement and is recognized internationally for his dedication to end racial segregation and discrimination. In 1963 he was named Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” and in 1964, Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Toward the end of his life, Dr. King refocused his work to include putting an end to poverty and the Vietnam War. He was assassinated 1968.