The Dream - Portland, Oregon
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howarthe
N 45° 31.793 W 122° 39.712
10T E 526403 N 5041872
The Dream by Michael F Dente was dedicated August 28, 1998, the thirty-five year anniversary of the day Dr. King gave that historic speech
Waymark Code: WM8N0R
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 04/21/2010
Views: 6
This monument is dedicated to Peace, Equality and Justice. It’s located at the Oregon Convention Center next to the Max Transit Station that’s next to Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
"The Dream", as the famous speech was named, is also the name of this statue by Michael F Dente. It was dedicated on August 28, 1998, the thirty-five year anniversary of the day Dr. King gave that historic speech. Mayor Lee Brown and Harry Belafonte attended the dedication ceremonies.
The plaque on the statue base includes the following excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's, Jr. speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963 during the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom:
"I say to you today, my friends, that even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream that one day....little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today..."
The plaque also describes the symbolism of the components of the statue as follows:
"The Dream represents Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stepping forward to deliver his message to the world.
"Behind and to the right of Dr. King is a young man of the working class rolling up his sleeves. He has just come to the realization and made the decision to step forward to announce his support for the universal message of equality, freedom, and justice.
"The little girl is depicted at the instant of releasing Dr. King's coat tail. This represents a "letting go" process where one or more members of a family are called away to contribute their energy and time to a concept and struggle of greatest importance to all people of the world."
"The young woman behind the little girl represents the immigrant of our society, warily advancing on the waves of hope and freedom to a land of great promise.
"The two bas reliefs on each side of this base depict Chief Joseph and his struggle to find peace and freedom for his people and Mahatma Gandhi on the salt march leading his people to independence. Both men pursued the same "Dream" as Martin Luther King, Jr.: peace, freedom, and equality for all mankind."
There are several plaque in the the sidewalk indicating the many donors who made this monument possible, but they are being worn down by feet.
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