Out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope.
(MLK)
A
fter a two-month postponement because of Hurricane Irene, the MLK Memorial was finally dedicated this morning — highlighted by a stirring tribute delivered by President Obama.
Needless to say the occasion was replete with symbolism … and irony:
The symbolism stems from the fact that, as remarkable as it was that Obama became the first black president of the United States in 2008, it is even more so that it was a black president who presided over the dedication of this first monument to a black American on the National Mall – putatively reserved for white presidents and white war heroes.
The irony stems from the fact that, just as Obama is now suffering waning popularity as he fights to provide jobs for the poor and end costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, at the time of his assassination MLK was also suffering waning popularity as he fought to lift poor people up from poverty and extricate America from the quagmire in Vietnam.
Then, alas, there are two lingering controversies that are worthy of comment:
The first concerns the fact that the monument was designed by a Chinese sculptor and built in China. Never mind that “made in China” is stamped on almost every thing in America these days.
The second concerns the fact that the most prominent quote – in a series of MLK quotes that give the memorial its inspirational poignancy – is in fact a misquote. Specifically, the quote on the left side of the MLK statue reads:
I was a drum major for justice, peace, and righteousness.
What MLK actually said is:
If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.
According to nationally acclaimed poet Maya Angelou, who was consulted on the memorial, the omission of the “if clause” changes the meaning of the quote and:
… makes Dr. Martin Luther King look like an arrogant twit.
(News One for Black America, October 14, 2011)
I disagree; i.e., I do not think it makes him look like an arrogant twit. More to the point, I understand the artistic license the designer took by omitting that clause; because cramming that many words onto the side of the MLK statue would detract from his profile. Besides, MLK’s character as a Gandhian / humble civil rights leader is so deeply rooted in American consciousness today that people can be left to put this quote into proper perspective without Professor Angelou’s pedantic vigilance.
On the other hand, it does seem rather arrogant to paraphrase MLK’s words in this formal and permanent context. This is why I urge the organizers to have the designer inscribe the entire quote. Alternatively, they could select a pithier one for this location and exhibit the drum-major quote, which clearly must be included, in another prominent place on the grounds of the memorial.
That said, as happy as I am that this day has come, I would be remiss not to mention my reaction when it was announced that MLK would be the first black American accorded this honor:
I suspect my friends who have seen the place of honor MLK occupies in my home will be surprised to learn that I am actually conflicted about this memorial. Because, as much as I admire MLK, I believe the life, political activism, and legacy of Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) make him more worthy of being the first black to be memorialized in this American Pantheon – alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.
[I then go on to list, by way of juxtaposition, a number of reasons why I would have chosen Douglas over MLK.]
(Mall at last! Mall at last! Thank God almighty, a Black is on the Mall at last, The iPINIONS Journal, November 14, 2006)
Finally, the irony of ironies for me is that there were more white people in the crowd on the day in 1963 when MLK delivered his historic “I Have A Dream” speech than there were today when the memorial to him was dedicated.
Hell, looking over the (surprisingly small) crowd one could be forgiven the impression that this dedication was taking place in the capital of some African country.
What, if anything, are we to make of this…? And it was such a beautiful (bright and sunny) day….
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Mall at last!..
* This commentary was originally published yesterday, Sunday, 1:35 pm