The Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial and the politics of post-racialism

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https://doi.org/10.2979/histmemo.32.2.03
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Keywords

Civil rights, Color-blindness, Commemoration, Martin Luther King Jr, Post-racialism, Public sculpture, Washington Mall

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The Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial and the politics of post-racialism. / Hagopian, P.
In: History and Memory, Vol. 32, No. 2, 31.12.2020, p. 36-77.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Bibtex

@article{7d0d92756d644296b2f6875c8160795e,

title = "The Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial and the politics of post-racialism",

abstract = "This article examines the history of the design of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, dedicated in October 2011. Based on documentary records and original interviews, it uncovers new evidence about the design competition, the design's oversight by federal commissions and the selection of the inscriptions. The article highlights the consequences of the sponsors' preference for “universal” and “timeless” themes over King's radical critique of American society. These choices bring this memorial to a civil rights leader into line with political conservatives' advocacy of “color-blind” government action. ",

keywords = "Civil rights, Color-blindness, Commemoration, Martin Luther King Jr, Post-racialism, Public sculpture, Washington Mall",

author = "P. Hagopian",

year = "2020",

month = dec,

day = "31",

doi = "10.2979/histmemo.32.2.03",

language = "English",

volume = "32",

pages = "36--77",

journal = "History and Memory",

publisher = "Indiana University Press",

number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial and the politics of post-racialism

AU - Hagopian, P.

PY - 2020/12/31

Y1 - 2020/12/31

N2 - This article examines the history of the design of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, dedicated in October 2011. Based on documentary records and original interviews, it uncovers new evidence about the design competition, the design's oversight by federal commissions and the selection of the inscriptions. The article highlights the consequences of the sponsors' preference for “universal” and “timeless” themes over King's radical critique of American society. These choices bring this memorial to a civil rights leader into line with political conservatives' advocacy of “color-blind” government action.

AB - This article examines the history of the design of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, dedicated in October 2011. Based on documentary records and original interviews, it uncovers new evidence about the design competition, the design's oversight by federal commissions and the selection of the inscriptions. The article highlights the consequences of the sponsors' preference for “universal” and “timeless” themes over King's radical critique of American society. These choices bring this memorial to a civil rights leader into line with political conservatives' advocacy of “color-blind” government action.

KW - Civil rights

KW - Color-blindness

KW - Commemoration

KW - Martin Luther King Jr

KW - Post-racialism

KW - Public sculpture

KW - Washington Mall

U2 - 10.2979/histmemo.32.2.03

DO - 10.2979/histmemo.32.2.03

M3 - Journal article

VL - 32

SP - 36

EP - 77

JO - History and Memory

JF - History and Memory

IS - 2

ER -

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