King Memorial
Morgan Freeman with Will Pitt on the MLK Memorial
t r u t h o u t Interview
Monday 17 January 2005
William Rivers Pitt: Thirty six years after the murder of Dr. King, plans are in motion to build a memorial to his life, his activism and his teachings in Washington DC. Given the days we live in - with war and economic uncertainty and fear served to us with our daily bread - a memorial to a man who preached non-violent resistance is timely. What aspects of the memorial will focus on King's legacy in this regard, and speaking personally, what aspects of Kings legacy in this regard find resonance with you in these days?
Morgan Freeman: Every aspect of this monument seems appropriate for these times. While some are confused and frustrated today with the conditions of our world, the monument offers the tenets of Christ as Dr. King understood them to provide calm - the water effects that are part of the design will allow a place for reflection. While storms and earthquakes ravage the land with power that mystifies us, the monument's etched phrases will speak of the peace within one's self - as Gandhi understood it and Dr. King perceived it from Gandhi's teachings. The monument itself - a peace monument to a peaceful man in a valley that has long commemorated great and hard-fought wars and the Presidents of our vast and diverse nation - the very idea of it pulses.
What does Dr. King mean to you? How do you feel about being involved in the movement to establish a memorial for him and his work?
I spent a great deal of time in the South, growing up there as a child in and around Memphis. As an adult, I was very aware of Dr. King's message and how it affected the people who lived in Southern communities. He was a person, more that any actor, more than just about any other statesman of his time, who had 'presence' in the surest form. I believe it was something that was born in him but that he cultivated with resolution because he knew the power that his particular kind of presence could have in the world.
He knew that change was inevitable but that choice affecting change, non-violence affecting change, peace in the midst of change would make the difference. This is a powerful example that he set for us and posterity. Any reminder of the example that was his life is important. In times of war, of heartache, of despair - in the best of times, we need to remember the power of an exemplary life. We need to remember, always, Dr. King's tenets and his life.
Can you tell me about the process involved in gaining approval for this monument, where it will be located, and what the overall concept behind its construction is?
A memorial, long overdue, will be built on the National Mall in Washington. It will be appropriately situated on four acres of the nation's most hallowed ground in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. The centerpiece is large a "Stone of Hope," on which the silhouette of Dr. King will be carved, symbolizing his walking out of the mountain of despair. Dr. King's sermons and speeches will be etched into a significant portion of the Memorial. The Memorial will fittingly be situated in the midst of the cherry blossoms, which will be bloom each year on the anniversary of Dr King's assassination.
This memorial project came about from the ambitious efforts of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternities. For over 20 years, the fraternity worked to make this dream a reality. As a result, in 1996, Congress signed an Act authorizing a Memorial in Washington and President Clinton signed the legislation authorizing the building to take place on the Tidal Basin.
The Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, AL, has a dramatic monument to Dr. King and his words, as well as a separate monument commemorating those who lost their lives in the struggle for civil rights. Are any aspects of that monument's concept to be incorporated into the DC memorial?
This memorial is distinct in that it is the First memorial honoring a man of peace and will be the only memorial on the Mall not honoring a president or a war. Another interesting point is that The Memorial will also commemorate the contributions of many other people who participated in and gave their life in the civil rights movement. Stone 'niches' will honor those including Medgar Evers and the four children murdered by a bomb blast at a Church in Birmingham. Some of these niches will purposely be left blank to allow for future heroes in the struggle towards equality, peace, and justice.
What else needs to be done for this monument to become a reality? What can people who would like to see this memorial become a reality do to help?
I encourage anyone who has ever benefited from Dr Kings actions and words of justice, equality, and peace to learn more about the Memorial. At www.buildthedream.org, you can learn more about the memorial, see the design and learn more about Dr. King as well. To date, the Memorial Foundation has been in a quiet phase, raising $32.5 million out of the needed $100 million. Now, we are kicking the campaign into high gear and calling on all citizens to make a contribution by our 2006 fundraising deadline. Any of those interested can donate directly through the website.
William Rivers Pitt is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of two books - 'War on Iraq: What Team Bush Doesn't Want You to Know' and 'The Greatest Sedition Is Silence.'
t r u t h o u t Interview
Monday 17 January 2005
William Rivers Pitt: Thirty six years after the murder of Dr. King, plans are in motion to build a memorial to his life, his activism and his teachings in Washington DC. Given the days we live in - with war and economic uncertainty and fear served to us with our daily bread - a memorial to a man who preached non-violent resistance is timely. What aspects of the memorial will focus on King's legacy in this regard, and speaking personally, what aspects of Kings legacy in this regard find resonance with you in these days?
Morgan Freeman: Every aspect of this monument seems appropriate for these times. While some are confused and frustrated today with the conditions of our world, the monument offers the tenets of Christ as Dr. King understood them to provide calm - the water effects that are part of the design will allow a place for reflection. While storms and earthquakes ravage the land with power that mystifies us, the monument's etched phrases will speak of the peace within one's self - as Gandhi understood it and Dr. King perceived it from Gandhi's teachings. The monument itself - a peace monument to a peaceful man in a valley that has long commemorated great and hard-fought wars and the Presidents of our vast and diverse nation - the very idea of it pulses.
What does Dr. King mean to you? How do you feel about being involved in the movement to establish a memorial for him and his work?
I spent a great deal of time in the South, growing up there as a child in and around Memphis. As an adult, I was very aware of Dr. King's message and how it affected the people who lived in Southern communities. He was a person, more that any actor, more than just about any other statesman of his time, who had 'presence' in the surest form. I believe it was something that was born in him but that he cultivated with resolution because he knew the power that his particular kind of presence could have in the world.
He knew that change was inevitable but that choice affecting change, non-violence affecting change, peace in the midst of change would make the difference. This is a powerful example that he set for us and posterity. Any reminder of the example that was his life is important. In times of war, of heartache, of despair - in the best of times, we need to remember the power of an exemplary life. We need to remember, always, Dr. King's tenets and his life.
Can you tell me about the process involved in gaining approval for this monument, where it will be located, and what the overall concept behind its construction is?
A memorial, long overdue, will be built on the National Mall in Washington. It will be appropriately situated on four acres of the nation's most hallowed ground in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. The centerpiece is large a "Stone of Hope," on which the silhouette of Dr. King will be carved, symbolizing his walking out of the mountain of despair. Dr. King's sermons and speeches will be etched into a significant portion of the Memorial. The Memorial will fittingly be situated in the midst of the cherry blossoms, which will be bloom each year on the anniversary of Dr King's assassination.
This memorial project came about from the ambitious efforts of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternities. For over 20 years, the fraternity worked to make this dream a reality. As a result, in 1996, Congress signed an Act authorizing a Memorial in Washington and President Clinton signed the legislation authorizing the building to take place on the Tidal Basin.
The Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, AL, has a dramatic monument to Dr. King and his words, as well as a separate monument commemorating those who lost their lives in the struggle for civil rights. Are any aspects of that monument's concept to be incorporated into the DC memorial?
This memorial is distinct in that it is the First memorial honoring a man of peace and will be the only memorial on the Mall not honoring a president or a war. Another interesting point is that The Memorial will also commemorate the contributions of many other people who participated in and gave their life in the civil rights movement. Stone 'niches' will honor those including Medgar Evers and the four children murdered by a bomb blast at a Church in Birmingham. Some of these niches will purposely be left blank to allow for future heroes in the struggle towards equality, peace, and justice.
What else needs to be done for this monument to become a reality? What can people who would like to see this memorial become a reality do to help?
I encourage anyone who has ever benefited from Dr Kings actions and words of justice, equality, and peace to learn more about the Memorial. At www.buildthedream.org, you can learn more about the memorial, see the design and learn more about Dr. King as well. To date, the Memorial Foundation has been in a quiet phase, raising $32.5 million out of the needed $100 million. Now, we are kicking the campaign into high gear and calling on all citizens to make a contribution by our 2006 fundraising deadline. Any of those interested can donate directly through the website.
William Rivers Pitt is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of two books - 'War on Iraq: What Team Bush Doesn't Want You to Know' and 'The Greatest Sedition Is Silence.'
posted by T. Scott Brineman at 7:42 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home