MLK Memorial Quote Inscription Ordered Changed within 30 days

By Anonymous -

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has ordered a disputed inscription on the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C. be changed. It reads, “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.’’

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has ordered an inscription carved into the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington be changed, after complaints that the quote does not accurately reflect the civil rights leader’s words.

The inscription, “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness,” paraphrases a sermon King delivered in 1968, two months before he was assassinated:

“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.”

Poet Maya Angelou was one of the leading critics of the inscription when the memorial was dedicated last year. As previously reported, Angelou slammed the quote, saying it makes King look like “an arrogant twit” outside its proper context.

According to the Washington Post, Salazar has given the National Park Service 30 days to come up with a more accurate alternative.

“This is important because Dr. King and his presence on the Mall is a forever presence for the United States of America, and we have to make sure that we get it right,” Salazar told the Post.

Ed Jackson Jr., the executive architect of the $120 million project, previously said King’s words were shortened due to space constraints.

He said in an emailed statement to the Associated Press Friday that the cost to make changes to the inscription will be assessed but none of the existing stone work will be removed.

“A few very carefully selected words will be added to the existing phrase; that will further amplify his statement about his role in America during the mid-20th century as a leader, a social advocate, a messenger, a voice of the people … for freedom, justice, hope and peace,” Jackson said.

Harry Johnson, president of the King Memorial Foundation, told the AP it wasn’t yet clear what the alternatives might be. The group would look at all the ways a change could be made, he said.

The ongoing inscription dust-up is just one of the controversies that’s surrounded the King memorial. Others have complained that its sculptor Lei Yixin is Chinese, not American, and have charged that King’s stern-looking facial expression does not portray his peaceful nature.

source: Charles Dharapak/Associated Press

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting. You email address and IP Address has been recorded for future reference. any anonymous comment which is deemed abusive will be removed and investigated for further action.

Popular posts from this blog

FOX NEWS HOST REFUSES TO BOARD PLANE WITH BLACK FEMALE PILOT

By Anonymous -
conservative commentator and author Ann Coulter has lost her mind! She refused to stay on board a Miami to New York flight after learning the pilot was a Black woman. According to witnesses, Coulter was concerned the experienced, decorated pilot may have gained her position as a result of affirmative action and wasn’t fully qualified to fly. The incident began when Coulter boarded the American Airlines flight and took up her first class seat. After a trip to the bathroom, she noticed the pilot was a black woman and became immediately distraught. According to passengers, at that point Coulter stood at the front of the cabin and began screaming her concerns to the entire flight as they finished boarding. “Aw come on people, a black woman flying a plane? You know she got that job through affirmative action. Am I the only one worried about this? I mean hello? Our lives are at stake here…” The confused passengers weren’t sure what to make of Coulter’s outburst, and rema...
Read more

MOM & 12 KIDS HOMELESS AFTER FAKE LANDLORD SCAM

By Anonymous -
Image
After pouring thousands of dollars into her decrepit house, Tocco Collins made the heartbreaking discovery that she had been seriously scammed. The mother of 12 had waited patiently for her landlords to deliver on their promises to fix the house’s holes, broken windows and burned out light box, CBS Atlanta reports. But after seven months, Collins learned that the phonies she had been paying $600 a month in rent didn’t own the home and had also skipped town. The actual owner had no idea her home was being rented out. “Step by step, I’m trying to make some effort,” Collins told the news outlet. “Right now I’m lost.” The Atlanta mother and her children are now homeless. They’re also at risk of getting broken up by child services, a devastating fate that do-gooders are trying to prevent. Members of Occupy Atlanta are raising money for the family to buy a new home, and volunteers said they would help renovate the new residence after it’s secured. Getting duped by a ...
Read more

Run-D.M.C. Producer Larry Smith Dead at 63

By Anonymous -
Image
Larry Smith, producer of some of the most cherished hip-hop records of the Eighties, including Run-D.M.C. 's first two albums, died Thursday at the age of 63. Radio host Combat Jack broke the news on Twitter , writing: "Just spoke to his family. RIP Larry Smith, the original King of Beats who passed away last night." A Queens native, Smith began his career as a session musician and quickly struck up a partnership with Kurtis Blow after playing bass on "Christmas Rappin'."  Smith would continue to play on a number of Blow's tracks, co-writing a few as well, including the MC's breakthrough record, "The Breaks,"  which became the first rap record to be certified gold. Smith then began working with Blow's manager at the time, Russell Simmons. The two co-produced a handful of tracks for Jimmy Spicer – including the oft-sampled "Money (Dollar Bill Y'All)"  – before helping make hip-hop history with Run-D.M.C.'s ...
Read more