Martin Luther King Statue Hailed As ‘Ugliest Thing Ever’
Seneca Scott, cousin of Martin Luther King Jr.’s wife Coretta Scott King who is a resident of the Roxbury neighborhood in Boston, spoke out against the recently erected bronze statue commemorating the contributions of his family, who are among the city’s most renowned and beloved citizens.
According to reports from The Washington Post, Seneca was not pleased with the excessive money spent to create what he considers “a mаstur**tory metal homage” to his legendary kin. In his words, had anyone from the hood seen this monument they would have immediately rejected it, because it looks like…well…just look at it.
Worse from this angle, Zuby. pic.twitter.com/5BhKtohcAc
— Sir Paul Alves (@StarshipAlves) January 14, 2023
He also blamed “woke” activists for what he deems a misappropriation of finances that could have been put towards more meaningful causes instead.
Imari Paris Jeffries, executive director of Embrace Boston and overseer of the statue installation project, felt differently about it. Upon first laying eyes on the artwork, he claims to have felt overwhelmed by emotion and began to cry. Jeffries deeply believes that this public art is one of America’s most remarkable achievements, describing it as a place of both calmness and joy.
BREAKING: The bronze sculpture called “The Embrace” honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King has just been unveiled on the Boston Common #7news #MLKWeekend #MLKDay2023 pic.twitter.com/IckphP15FL
— Amaka Ubaka (@AmakaUbakaTV) January 13, 2023
Despite Seneca Scott’s qualms with regards to its cost and design elements, many people in Boston remain proud of their city’s most recent monument and celebrate its ability to inspire reflection and admiration. This contentious yet captivating artwork serves as a reminder of how even something so simple and seemingly mundane can bring together individuals from different backgrounds who share similar values and interests.
Through monuments like these we can gain insight into our past while learning powerful lessons about our present circumstances – proving once again why public art is so important for interpreting culture, cultivating understanding, and creating connections between our communities.