Martin Luther King Jr. by Mural
Photographer Camilo José Vergara captures varying portrayals of the civil rights leader in urban areas across the United States
- By Jess Righthand
- Smithsonian.com, January 12, 2011
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(Camilo José Vergara)
"I Have a Dream," Los Angeles (photographed 2009)
“This is not at all a characteristic picture of him,” says Vergara. In contrast to the peaceful, contemplative images that predominate of King , this mural in South Central Los Angeles shows King reaching out for help, a look of anguish on his face. In the background is a picture of a motel, likely the Lorraine Motel in Memphis where he was murdered in 1968. The assassination, for which escaped convict James Earl Ray was arrested and sentenced to 99 years in prison, sparked riots across the country, affecting as many as 110 U.S. cities.
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Comments (3)
"King is pictured here between jazz pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington and a local politician."
Incorrect. King is on the right.
Posted by Stephanie on January 16,2012 | 01:22 AM
A beautiful selection of murals honoring Martin Luther King. Here is another one:
http://www.vimeo.com/18855173
Posted by Lisa on January 16,2011 | 09:17 PM
On the upcoming occasion of the Martin Luther King Day of Service, one thing that can be done to honor Dr. King's legacy is ensuring that the Pentagon spend an adequate amount of money to recover the remains of our World War II missing in action, many of whom were African-Americans, such as the following MIA Tuskegee Airmen (courtesy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch): Lt. Albert L. Young, F/O Carl J. Woods, Lt. William F. Williams Jr., Lt.Sherman H. White Jr., Lt. James R. Polkinghorne, F/O Leland H. Pennington, Lt. Andrew D. Marshall, Captain Andrew Maples Jr., Lt. Oscar D. Hutton Jr., Lt. Wellington G. Irving, Lt. Fred L. Brewer Jr., Lt. John H. Chavis, Capt. Alfonzo W. Davis, Capt. Lawrence E. Dickson, Lt. Maurice V. Esters, Lt. Samuel J. Foreman, Lt. Frederick D. Funderburg Jr., Lt. Samuel Jefferson, Lt. Charles B. Johnson, and Lt. Samuel G. Leftenant. The Defense Department has historically treated its MIA remains recovery program like a neglected stepchild, requesting a level of funding that is nowhere near the amount needed to recover the remains of the tens of thousands still missing. Please support substantially increased funding for location and recovery of the remains of our heroic missing Tuskegee Airmen, and all the other missing soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Their families deserve nothing less.
Gary Zaetz
Project Homecoming
Posted by Gary Zaetz on January 16,2011 | 10:10 AM