MLK Jr. memorial confronts controversy
For years, critics have questioned the decision to go outside of the United States for a sculptor and have said King's 30-foot likeness appears too Asian or too confrontational.
Ed Jackson, executive architect of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial , told supporters that two of King's children approved the granite likeness crafted by Chinese sculptor Lei Yixin .
King's namesake son, Martin Luther King III , told USA TODAY that Lei has done well.
"I've seen probably 50 sculptures of my dad, and I would say 47 of them are not good reflections — that's not to disparage an artist," King said in an interview last week. "This particular artist — he's done a good job."
The younger King's comments are the latest in a debate that has simmered since 2007, when fundraisers selected Lei to create the centerpiece after observing him work at a stone carver's symposium in Minnesota.
Critics have ranged from a sculptor who was on an earlier planning team to academics to union members who balked over a decision by the memorial foundation to pay for a handful of Chinese workers to travel to Washington to help assemble the statue. Backers are addressing the concerns as the foundation races to raise the final $6 million needed.
The King statue, the foundation says, will be 11 feet taller than the statues in the nearby Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial , which the National Park Service says measure 19 feet each.
Foundation representatives chose Lei after seeing his work and learning that he was experienced at creating large, public statues, Jackson told a group of Washington-area ministers who toured the site last Wednesday. Jackson gave the 20 ministers a recounting of the foundation's relationship with Lei.
Jackson recalled traveling to Lei's studio in China and discovering the artist had already created a miniature rendering of the statue.
When criticism bubbled up in the United States over Lei's selection as the sculptor and of his arms-folded interpretation of King, Jackson and other foundation representatives traveled to China to consult with Lei.
"He had already created … three additional sculptures of Dr. King's head," Jackson said.
Information On Martin Luther King Jr - News
28 dedication in Washington of a major memorial to Martin Luther King Jr., organizers of the 4-acre, $120 million site are working to assure the public that the selection of an artist from China was made with great care and that the family of the civil
In her quiet way, Naomi Barber King—sister-in-law to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and widow of the Rev. Alfred "AD" King—is determined to continue to expound on her husband's legacy. People around the world are familiar with the name,
In one of the videos, a 36-year-old woman is seen entering Walgreens, 5420 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. North, about 11:50 pm Thursday. The suspect grabs the woman's purse from behind, pulling her out the front door. The victim held onto her purse
At 12:12 am Saturday, officers with the Thomasville Police Department were dispatched to a parking lot at 815 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in regard to a domestic dispute involving a couple, said Thomasville Police Lt. Kimberly Sebastian.
GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com. About the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project
Saturday Technology Training Sessions Blog: BlindHow
Saturday Technology Training Sessions 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 1pm to 4pm Adaptive Services Division, DC Public Library, Room 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 901 G Street NW Washington DC 20001 We are located between Gallery Place Chinatown and Metro Center on the Red Line. There is no public parking at the MLK Library. The meetings are a chance for people who use Adaptive Technologies to get together and share information, learn about Technologies like the JAWS ScreenReader and MAGic ScreenMagnifier which make the computer accessible to people who are blind or have low vision, and hear demonstrations of new Adaptive Technologies and Services. Some examples of demonstrations and presentations from past sessions include iPhone and iPad, Captioned Telephone, and Employment tips from the Rehabilitation Services Administration. The Adaptive Technology Program provides adaptive technology workstations for people who need them in order to access the library’s programs and services. The workstations are located in the Adaptive Services Division, Room 215 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, and include adjustable furniture, large screen computer monitors, video magnifiers and software programs that make information accessible to individuals with disabilities. Patrons can call ahead and reserve two-hour sessions at either the computer workstations or at the CCTVs. Introductory training on Adaptive Technologies is available through orientation sessions with a staff member and through regular weekly meetings with Volunteer Trainers. The Adaptive Services webpage is on the DC Public Library website at www.dclibrary.org/services/adaptiveservices Check out our archive at http://www.ustream.
Information On Martin Luther King Jr - Bookshelf
Martin Luther King, Jr, young man with a dream
A biography, emphasizing the early years, of the civil rights leader whose philosophy and practice of nonviolent civil disobedience helped American blacks win ...I have a dream, writings and speeches that changed the world
Gathers speeches, sermons, letters, and essays from each period in Dr. King's life, and includes brief notes on their historical backgroundMartin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Leader
Highlights the life and accomplishments of the Baptist pastor who became a driving force behind the African American civil rights movement.Martin Luther King, Jr., A Life
A biography of Martin Luther King, Jr., interweaves a history of the civil rights movement with King's rise to fame.Martin Luther King Jr.
Traces the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on facts that are not as widely known.Daily Info Directory
Martin Luther King Jr. - A True Historical Examination
The truth about Martin Luther King: Includes historical trivia, articles and pictures. A valuable resource for teachers and students alike.
Martin Luther King, Jr. - Wikipedia
Profile of Dr. Martin Luther King, the Nobel Laureate, Baptist minister, and African American civil rights activist. Learn about King's early life ...
Martin Luther King - Nobel Foundation
Nobelprize.org, The Official Web Site of the Nobel Prize ... At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. ...
Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site - Martin Luther ...
The Birth Home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., may be visited only with a park ranger led tour. The tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. ...
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on the Net - Welcome to a ...
The next celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be on Monday January 17, 2011. ... Here are the dates for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2010-2020 ...