This particular mural stood out among the many that were painted along MLK Blvd. in Liberty City. It is obvious that somebody is keeping it vivid and fresh. It virtually leaps off the wall and grabs you as you drive by. (Click on image for a high-resolution view.)
When driving by, you, as a driver, will not have a chance to read the words, but there-in lies the message. Only a few American's will not recognize them as excerpts from King's last speech.
"Like anybody, I'd like to live a long life...but it doesn't matter now. I've been to the mountaintop."And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But...we as a people will get to the Promised Land."
This is the short video of a portion of the speech that includes the above phrases:
There were many other murals along MLK Blvd. in Liberty City, and here is a sampling.
Going under the I-95 freeway eastbound, this is your initial view.
If you get stopped at the light under the freeway, you get to read these words.
These murals are in the downtown core.
Make sure you take a moment to read the initial comment made below this blog by 'circles...all the way down' about this sign, which he entitled "For Rent: Dream of the Century."
These murals are under the I-95 freeway westbound, toward the downtown Liberty City area.
The spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has been kept alive in Liberty City. At the far western end, just before entering the Hialeah portion of MLK Blvd., you will pass Martin Luther King Jr. park, where there is a larger-than-life statue of Dr. King.
If you want to take some of the art home with you, you can always buy a T-shirt.Indexing for This Topic
interesting mise-en-scène in the Obama/King picture:
ReplyDelete"For Rent: Dream of the Century"
how much would the rent be on such a dream? by the night or the hour? do weekly rates apply? can i rent to own? credit check? security deposit?
this tableau beautifully, and presumably accidentally, captures the intersection of capitalism and race, as well as the ways in which political figures pass from the realm of historical people to symbolic entities.
as an undergraduate i took a class on Howard Thurman, Malcolm X, and W.E.B. Du Bois. this was back in the late Nineties, not that far removed from Spike Lee's rendition of Malcolm. the professor challenged the class about the preponderance of "X" memorabilia, asking how meaningful political change was possible in a society that turned fallen leaders into commodities. your pix brought that back to mind. many thanks...