Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (Jersey City) Explained

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Year:2000
Type:Bronze, Granite
Imperial Unit:ft
Metric Unit:m

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is a memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. at the Martin Luther King Drive station of the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail in the Jackson Hill section of Jersey City, New Jersey.[1]

The work — a bust and accompanying bas reliefs — was created by the sculptor Jonathan Shahn (1938-2020), who was son of Ben Shahn. It was commissioned by NJ Transit and unveiled in 2000 upon the station's opening.[2] [3]

The bronze 4feet bust is set atop a 7feet granite pedestal. Accompanying bronze bas reliefs, in 2-foot sections, entitled The Struggle for Civil Rights in the Martin Luther King Era, show scenes and figures from the civil rights movement. The reverse side is inscribed with a quotation from King's Letter from Birmingham Jail: "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."[4] [5]

King is known to have made at least two speeches in Jersey City. On September 21, 1965, he received an honorary Doctor of Law from St. Peter's College. Dr. King gave an address titled "The American Dream." On Wednesday, March 27, 1968, barely a week before his death, nearly 2,000 heard King at Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in which her rallied support the Poor People's Campaign and the Memphis sanitation strike.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] The Afro-American Historical and Cultural Society Museum in Jersey City documents those visits.

See also

References

40.7121°N -74.0773°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Beckerman . Jim . Martin Luther King Jr. in sculpture: Which statues capture him best? . The Record . January 17, 2020 . September 20, 2021.
  2. News: ART; Memorializing Civil Rights Era. Margo. Nash. The New York Times. April 16, 2000.
  3. Web site: Library Guides: Hudson Bergen Light Rail: Hudson Bergen Light Rail. J. C.. History. njcu.libguides.com.
  4. Web site: Making a memorial . Bates . Steve . January 19, 2001 . The Lawrence Ledger. September 20, 2021.
  5. Dube . Ilene . Inside a Head . March 8, 2010 . The Artful Blogger.
  6. Web site: Martin Luther King, Jr. speeches in Jersey City . Cityofjerseycity.org . 2013-10-05.
  7. Web site: Nash . Margo . JERSEY FOOTLIGHTS - Building on Success . . 2001-11-04 . 2013-10-05.
  8. News: Kaulessar. Ricardo. 2009-02-10. Celebrating Black History Month Public Library local colleges observe African American contributions . Hudson Reporter . 2013-10-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131006111848/http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2414860/article-Celebrating-Black-History-Month-Public-Library--local-colleges-observe-African-American-contributions . 2013-10-06.
  9. Web site: Beyond King and Obama: Visits to Jersey City by Prominent African-American Figures Have Been Constant Through History. Kaulessar. Ricardo. February 8, 2011. JerseyCityIndependent.com. November 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20131014104009/http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2011/02/08/beyond-king-and-obama-visits-to-jersey-city-by-prominent-african-american-figures-have-been-constant-through-history/. October 14, 2013. dead.
  10. Web site: Days before death, King delivered 'dynamic' speech in Jersey City, county official recalls. Mota. Caitlin. January 15, 2016. NJ.com. November 6, 2017.

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