The dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on Sunday was used by President Obama and other speakers to transform King’s 1960s message of equality among the races into a politically charged call for economic and social equality.
“[King] tells us that we have a duty to fight against poverty, even if we arewell off; to care about the child in the decrepit school even if our own children are doing fine; to show compassion toward the immigrant family, with the knowledge that most of us are only a fewgenerations removed from similar hardships,” Obama said.
More than a dozen civil rights leaders and dignitaries spoke during the four-hour celebration of King’s life and message, conjuring up images of King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech and the March on Washington.
And though the event was originally scheduled for the 48th anniversary of that momentous August day before Tropical Storm Irene intervened, King’s daughter Bernice King said the delay was a “divine interruption.” In stark contrast, Sunday’s skies were flawless and warm. “Perhaps God wanted us to move beyond the dream into action,” King said.
King’s comments were echoed by her brother, Martin Luther King III, and the likes of the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. They emphasized that the late King advocated for more than justice for minorities, but economic and social equality as well. Several said the Occupy Wall Street movement was born of a similar march about poverty King was planning when he was assassinated in 1968.
Others used the platform to push causes they insinuated King would have supported in his lifetime, such as WashingtonMayorVincent Gray’s call for the capital to receive a vote in Congress.
A number of speakers highlighted the need to raise the enthusiasm levels heading into next year’s election and elicited support for Obama’s 2012 campaign, much to the delight of the overwhelmingly pro-Obama crowd.
“It’s significant that this happens when we have an African-American president. The example that [King] set, the things that he stood for, is shaping today,” said George Jordan of Columbus, Ohio,wearing an Obama hat.
For his part, Obama expressed similar sentiments as the King family during a 20-minute address that seemed to draw parallels to his own struggles to instill the change he ran on in 2008.
“Even after rising to prominence, even after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. King was vilified by many, denounced as a rabble-rouser and an agitator, a communist and a radical,” Obama said. “He was even attacked by his own people, by those who felt he was going too fast or those who felt he was going too slow.”
West Potomac Park was filled with spectators from across the country who traveled to the nation’s capital for the dedication of the first memorial on the Mall of a nonpresident. Access to the memorial itself — including the 450-foot inscription wall and 30-foot sculpture of King—was limited in the morning because of Obama’s planned appearance, but the crowd was treated to musical performances by Aretha Franklin, StevieWonder and others.
Norma Dotson came in fromDetroit for the event, which she said was the third greatest civil rights honor in her lifetime, after the recognition of King’s birthday as a federal holiday and Obama’s election.
“I’ve never seen such a touching tribute for an African-American,” Dotson said.
