Consider the intertwined arms of The Embrace. This bronze sculpture on Boston Common honors Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. It represents the hug they shared after he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
The Embrace stands 20 feet tall. It is 25 feet wide and weighs 19 tons. The sculpture features buttons on his sleeves and a bracelet on her wrist.
Installed in December 2022, The Embrace commemorates the Kings’ commitment to nonviolence. It also highlights love as a motivator in their civil rights work. The sculpture sits in the 1965 Freedom Plaza. This plaza recognizes 69 Boston civil rights leaders from the 1950s through the 1970s.
In 2017, the Boston Foundation sought proposals for a King memorial. Hank Willis Thomas’ design was selected from 126 submissions. Mass Design Group created the sculpture in Walla Walla, Washington.
The Embrace was dedicated on January 13, 2023. Dignitaries and members of the King family attended. Crowds gathered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to view the statue.
The Embrace has faced much criticism. Some find it aesthetically displeasing. Others feel the disembodied limbs are disconcerting. One relative called it insulting to the black community.
Despite criticism, some praise The Embrace. Yolanda Renee King, their granddaughter, sees love, strength, and unity. She sees a beautiful marriage that changed the world.
Hank Willis Thomas defends his work. He notes the public chose this design. He believes negative views are perverse.
The Embrace stands as a reminder of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in Boston. He and Coretta met in Boston. Martin studied theology at Boston University. Coretta studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. King spoke in Boston many times about equality and unity. He led the first civil rights march in the Northeast from Roxbury to Boston Common.
Whether admired or not, The Embrace marks a moment in Boston’s history. It symbolizes King’s messages of peace, compassion, and justice. The Embrace honors his legacy for generations.