Posted on 08/25/2007 1:42:31 PM PDT by Serb5150
WASHINGTON - The selection of a Chinese sculptor to carve a three-story monument to Martin Luther King Jr. on the National Mall is raising questions about what part of his legacy should be celebrated.
King promoted peace and understanding among all people. His primary fight, however, was to win particular opportunities for blacks in the United States by juxtaposing the plight of an oppressed people against a message of freedom and democracy.
A loose-knit but growing group of critics says a black artist — or at least an American — should have been chosen to create the King memorial between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials in the nation's capital. They have been joined by human rights advocates who say King would have abhorred the Chinese government's record on religious and civil liberty.
"They keep saying King was for everyone. I keep telling people, 'No, King wasn't for everyone. King was for fairness and justice,'" said Gilbert Young, a black painter from Atlanta who has started a Web site and a petition drive to try to change the project.
"I believe that black artists have the right to interpret ourselves first," Young said. "If nobody steps up to the plate to do that, then certainly pass it along to someone else."
The memorial foundation directing the project seems surprised at the criticism. Ten of the 12 people on the committee that chose the sculptor, Lei Yixin, are black. Lei is working closely on the design with two black sculptors in the U.S., organizers said, and the overall project is being directed by a black-owned architecture firm.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I agree. Why is King being honored there? He is nowhere near the level of the others. The whole idea is stupid and politically correct from the start.
Excellent post.
Klan with a tan at it again. The NAACP carrying on about Imus but wants to excuse Michael Vicks barabrism as “Like hunting”. What an important thing to focus on who does the MLK staute, real important. African Americans comprise 14% of the population but are 40% of the prision population. 6 in 10 black children are born illegitimate, I could go on but seems like the house slave still controls the debate in circles of the civil rights movement.
Monuments to H. Rapp Brown and Malcom X are coming next.
“I believe that black artists have the right to interpret ourselves first,” Young said. “If nobody steps up to the plate to do that, then certainly pass it along to someone else.”
These leftist racial identity fanatics sure can pull new rights out of a hat. No doubt that one is to found in the super secret clause of the 14th amendment that guarantees blacks the right to affirmative action racial preferences.
Where is that Afro-Chinaman, now that we need him?
Tiger Woods needs to come to the rescue. Does he know anything about sculpting?
Yeah, that’s the ticket! Tiger can do anything he sets his mind to.
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