The Embrace
Associated Press
In this photograph taken on April 23, 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., under umbrella at left, addresses civil rights marchers on the Boston Common after a march from Roxbury to protest segregation in schools, unequal employment, and housing concerns. Associated Press
Getty Images
In 2017, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture issued a call for a permanent monument in the Boston Common representing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King’s legacy and presence in the city, with the aim to create a cultural symbol of equity and justice for Boston’s residents and visitors. A selection committee received 126 applications that were ultimately narrowed down to five finalists invited for design competition.
The design for the memorial and plaza was awarded to artist Hank Willis Thomas, who partnered with MASS to bring about his vision. The new memorial initiated a partnership between the City of Boston and Embrace Boston, a nonprofit working to inspire change and activate social justice values toward the realization of a radically equitable and inclusive Boston.
Early Concept Sketch
Thomas’ sculpture design was inspired by photographs from the Civil Rights Movement—moments of people joining hands, locking arms and of the Kings walking arm in arm at the frontlines of marches and protests. One image from that period, depicting Dr. King hugging Coretta following his Nobel Peace Prize award announcement in 1964, was particularly striking to Thomas: “I saw in that moment, how much of his weight was literally on top of her. And I thought that was a really symbolic idea: That she was literally holding his weight.”
Beneath the 20 by 25 ft. sculptural arms of Dr. King and Coretta Scott, passersby are reminded of our shared human connection and the ideals of inclusion that the Kings defended in their lives of united activism. By bringing visitors into this embrace, the memorial shifts emphasis from a singular hero to a collective emotion, boldly declaring that love is the ultimate weapon against injustice. The Embrace evokes the Kings’ shared love and their commitment to each other and to their ideals. Its message is simple and accessible: This is about what we share, not what sets us apart.
Alan Ricks
Alan Ricks
MASS led research and analysis to understand the history of the Common and its layout, adjacencies, infrastructures, and use patterns over time. The 1965 Freedom Plaza, grounded by The Embrace at its center, forms a new node within the established network of America’s oldest public park. The 6,000 sq.ft. circular plaza sits along a historic desire line, responding to the State House, Black Heritage Trail, and Parkman Bandstand. It was sited to preserve the existing trees and scaled to be below their canopy, with additional trees planted around the plaza. The 1965 Freedom Plaza marks the first new monument in the Boston Common in more than 30 years.
MLK Jr.'s Freedom Rally
"Love is such a powerful force. It’s there for everyone to embrace—that kind of unconditional love for all humankind. That is the kind of love that impels people to go into the community and try to change conditions for others, to take risks for what they believe in.”
Coretta Scott King
Brianna Wray & Walla Walla Foundry
Brianna Wray & Walla Walla Foundry
Brianna Wray & Walla Walla Foundry
Brianna Wray & Walla Walla Foundry
Brianna Wray & Walla Walla Foundry
Brianna Wray & Walla Walla Foundry
Custom diamond-shaped pavers, benches, and wall elements were fabricated by Quarra Stone Company in Madison, Wisconsin. The 1,300 granite pavers, in six different finishes, evoke African American quilt-making traditions. The pattern symbolizes unity and collectivism, echoing Martin Luther King, Jr.’s letter from Birmingham Jail in 1963: “All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.”
The Plaza also honors 64 of Boston’s civil rights leaders active between 1950-1970, creating an opportunity to honor local civil rights leaders, who are commemorated with a bronze plaque embedded within the plaza.
First opening in January of 2023, "Making The Embrace" is an exhibit hosted by MASS Design Group showcasing the work behind the latest memorial on Boston Common, The Embrace. Placed on display within MASS’s own Boston office, the show took visitors through the city's call for the memorial, the design competition, and how the memorial was brought to life, detailing the work and process of the project partners. At the core of the exhibition is the question of how we can demand more memorials that unite us around our common humanity, love, and empathy.
