“The Embrace”: A Monument Dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King's Love

THE EMBRACE &amp; THE 1965 FREEDOM PLAZA We unveiled The Embrace and the 1965 Freedom Plaza in January 2023 on the Boston Common, the first public park in our nation. The Embrace Memorial is an important cultural symbol of equity and justice for Boston residents and all those who visit the city. The artwork is a permanent monument representing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King’s love and powerful presence in Boston, a time that helped shape their approach to an equitable society. LOVE. EQUITY. JUSTICE. Five years in the making, The Embrace is a reflection of Boston’s diversity – standing bold and beautiful as a symbol of Boston’s rich history and expansive cultural community. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King met in Boston in 1952. The Embrace is a memorial to their love and leadership. Inspired by a photograph of the Kings embracing, it reflects the power of collective action, the role of women in the freedom movement, and the forging of solidarity out of mutual empathy and vulnerability. At the invitation of MASS Design Group, artist Hank Willis Thomas brought his distinct point of view to the national design competition held by Embrace Boston. Their collaborative concept seemed like a longshot—would anybody want a memorial to the Kings that didn’t include their faces?—but The Embrace resonated deeply. Though abstract, it captured the essence of the Kings as a couple and invited people to "stand in the heart of their hug," as Thomas put it.

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“The Embrace”: A Monument Dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King's Love

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