I Am A Man Plaza - Memphis, Tennessee, USA. - Municipal Parks and Plazas on Waymarking.com

I AM A MAN - A Civil Rights Monument to the strike that brought about the assassination of Dr M.L. King Jr, in 1968 the year that shattered America

The plaza’s opening comes exactly 50 years to the day after a march with Dr. King and the sanitation workers was originally scheduled.

I AM A MAN Plaza creates a space that intends to inspire future generations to stand up for social justice and positive change. The Plaza, funded by the City of Memphis and the Plough Foundation and developed in partnership with the Urban Art Commission, is designed by Cliff Garten Studios in partnership with JPA, Inc.

“For 50 years, the sanitation workers of 1968 have inspired Memphians with their courageous stand for basic human dignity,” Mayor Strickland said. “In the next 50 years and beyond, I AM A MAN Plaza will serve as a permanent place to reflect on their stand and inspire young people to take action.”

I AM A MAN Plaza is located adjacent to Clayborn Temple (280 Hernando Street), which served as a home for sanitation workers during the 1968 strike. It is a large-scale landscape sculpture commissioned to pay tribute to the sanitation workers and the legacy of Dr. King.

Garten’s design features a centrally located bronze and stainless steel sculpture, which will be illuminated at night, that brings the iconic I AM A MAN slogan into the present.

“The entire design of I AM A MAN Plaza is inclusive and participatory,” Garten said. “It was an honor to collaborate with the community of Memphis to create this moving and inviting memorial for the strikers and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Text Sources: (visit link) & (visit link) & (visit link) & (visit link)

Name: I Am A Man Plaza Street Location: Hernando Street, Memphis, TN. Local Municipality: Memphis State/Province, etc.: Tennessee Country: USA Web Site: [Web Link] Memorial/Commemoration: MLK50 Date Established: April 4 2018 Picnic Facilities: none Recreational Facilities: none Monuments/Statues: Time Line & Workers Memorial Wall Art (murals/sculpture, etc.): I Am A Man - Abstract Sculpture Fountains: none Ponds/Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Beach: none Special Events: occasional events held in this venue. Traditional Geocaches: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
One photo of the park that is a different view from the one on the page, and give the date and description your visit.

Add any additional information that you may have about this park. A GPSr photo is NOT required.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   06/16/2023 stevepre2 visited it 03/09/2019 Benchmark Blasterz visited it 05/27/2018 veritas vita visited it

View all visits/logs