Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial - New Britain, CT - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a clergyman and activist leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He espoused a philosophy of seeking change using nonviolent civil disobedience.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, was sculpted by Derrick Barrett. Luigi Tempesta did the carving and the New Britain Monumental Works was the fabricator. The monument was dedicated on July 11, 1977.

A 6' by 5' by 2' granite monument sits on a 6' by 3' by 1' granite base. The central section is a black granite block, beveled near the top, and supporting white granite bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King is depicted a suit jacket and tie and is in the process of speaking. The beveled edge contains the words I HAVE A DREAM. The front of the base has the inscription:

DOCTOR
MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR.
1929 - 1968

On Dr. King's right side there is a smaller white granite block with the image of Dr. King surround people of different cultures. Below is the inscription:

WE HAVE INHERITED A LARGE
HOUSE. A GREAT WORLD
HOUSE IN WHICH WE HAVE
TO LIVE TOGETHER * BLACK
AND WHITE, EASTERNER AND
WESTERNER, GENTILE AND
JEW, CATHOLIC AND PROT-
ESTANT, MOSLEM AND HINDU.
A FAMILY UNDULY SEPARAT-
ED IN IDEAS, CULTURE AND
INTEREST, WHO BECAUSE
WE CAN NEVER AGAIN LIVE
APART, MUST SOMEHOW
LEARN TO LIVE WITH EACH
OTHER IN PEACE.

On Dr. King's left side there is a smaller white granite block with the image of the reflecting pool,Washington Monument, four human profiles, and a pair of grasped hands. Below is the inscription:

NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE
REAL THE PROMISES OF
DEMOCRACY. NOW IS THE
TIME TO RISE FROM THE
DARK AND DESOLATE VALLEY
OF SEGREGATION TO THE
SUNLIT PATH OF RACIAL
JUSTICE. NOW IS THE TIME
TO LIFT OUR NATION FROM
THE QUICKSANDS OF
RACIAL INJUSTICE TO
THE SOLID ROCK OF
BROTHERHOOD.

TITLE: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial ARTIST(S): Derrick Barrett, sculptor; Luigi Tempesta, carver; New Britain Monumental Works, fabricator. DATE: Dedicated July 11, 1977 MEDIUM: granite statue, pedestal, and base CONTROL NUMBER: IAS CT000109 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Martin Luther King Jr. Park Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Stanley St. New Britain, CT DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: The panel on Dr. King's right side shows Dr. King surrounded by people of different cultures; not scenes from his life.

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