Pass/Fail: Boston unveils new sculpture honoring Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King

[playahaitian]

Boston unveils "Embrace" sculpture of MLK and Coretta Scott King

“The Embrace,” a massive bronze piece by Hank Willis Thomas, depicts a historic moment after Martin Luther King Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[playahaitian]

The sculpture sits in the same spot where in 1965 King led 20,000 people in the northeast’s first march of the civil rights era to protest segregation in schools.

 

[playahaitian]

 

[playahaitian]

In recent years, several civil rights monuments and statues have been vandalized, including a George Floyd statue in New York City last October and a memorial dedicated to Emmett Till in Mississippi, which was replaced with a bulletproof version in 2019 after being repeatedly vandalized for years. Thomas said while vandalism happens all the time to public art, he has not thought about someone possibly damaging this sculpture. “So maybe I’m being naive, but I kind of hope that the spirit of it, which is pretty much universal, is something that will keep people from wanting to harm it,” he said.

 

[playahaitian]

https://hankwillisthomas.com/public-art/raise-up

https://hankwillisthomas.com/public-art/unity

 

[playahaitian]

The Embrace, a Monument Celebrating MLK, to Be Unveiled on Boston Common

The 22-foot-tall bronze sculpture of interlocking arms that commemorates Martin Luther King, Jr. (GRS’55, Hon.’59) and wife Coretta Scott King—who met while King was a student at Boston University—will be unveiled on Friday

www.bu.edu

 

[World B Free]

That ain't it....

 

[Z MONSTER]

It's horrible

 

[Jumbodicc]

Does Boston have a Bill Russell statue? This is not a good way commemorate the legacy of Dr. King and his family.

 

[dade305]

Riiiight....(skeptical face)
Noses too wide to be sculpted and put on display in public in Boston, huh?
Mofos think they slick...

How would anyone identify that as Martin and Coretta without reading the plaque?

 

[knightmelodic]

In recent years, several civil rights monuments and statues have been vandalized, including a George Floyd statue in New York City last October and a memorial dedicated to Emmett Till in Mississippi, which was replaced with a bulletproof version in 2019 after being repeatedly vandalized for years. Thomas said while vandalism happens all the time to public art, he has not thought about someone possibly damaging this sculpture. “So maybe I’m being naive, but I kind of hope that the spirit of it, which is pretty much universal, is something that will keep people from wanting to harm it,” he said.

He don't know boston

 

[NightMare Paint]

It's fucking arms. What the hell

 

[TIMEISMONEY]

What the fuck is this!! I'm really pissed off about this stupid as shit.
Where are their heads?

 

[blackbull1970]

Looks like two hands holding up a Big Black C…

Never mind.

HaHa!!!

 

[dade305]

I swear his kids can't ever see the play

 

[illdog]

Hmmp...fitting that maybe the most covertly/overtly racist city in the u.s...gives some kinda weird twisted tribute to one of our most important leaders and his wife.

 

[NightMare Paint]

I swear his kids can't ever see the play

Anything that gives them a reason to be in the press.

 

[darth frosty]

 

[bgbtylvr]

Without seeing the pic you won’t get the context. But after seeing the pic I think is dope.

 

[dbluesun]

that is some
you can't appreciate the statue without the pic

 

[playahaitian]

@dik cashmere

 

[trstar]

Art is so subjective I’m surprised any public installations gets approved. I remember when the Joe Louis “Fist” was introduced in Detroit. Talk about outrage. To many Louis represented more than just a disembodied fist.

 

[dik cashmere]

@dik cashmere

#shot97

fuck them as a staff, a label and a muthafuckin crew

it doesn’t surprise me that Rosenberg likes the statue

I’m just wondering if he would feel the same way if they depicted his precious rabbi that they still believe is coming back to life with the same enthusiasm

 

[playahaitian]

@dik cashmere

I completely agree with Ebro

And Peter gotta chill

He don't dictate HOW black folk feel about how they are represented

 

[EPDC]

Two things can be right at the same time.

I agree with Ebro and Rosenberg.

The more I see it, I like the statue, however at the same time, it would have been nice to actually see the Black faces the embrace belongs to.

I'm all about messaging. The minute you have to explain your message, you failed at delivering it.

The statue, as it stands is beautiful, but it will be lost on those who aren't familiar with the picture.

Yet at the same time, it's never a bad thing when art leads to discussion and if people learn why the embrace happened (Dr. King receiving the news of his Nobel Peace Prize win) then it's not a bad thing....

 

[Politic Negro]

 

[kurchat00]

The "Embrace" sculpture definitely sparks a lot of conversation. While it's meant to be symbolic of a powerful moment, I understand why some feel disconnected from the abstract representation. Art is always subjective, and public sculptures often face criticism for not being straightforward. In this case, I think the message behind it is powerful, but I agree that it would have been more impactful to include the faces of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King. That said, I hope it will still serve as a meaningful tribute and a point of reflection for those who visit.