Existing comment:
When the memorial opened in August 2011, there was an outcry over an inscription that the writer Maya Angelou complained made King look like an "arrogant twit".
The original quote had been "Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter." The paraphrased version, which of course had been approved throughout the chain of command including presumably the King family, and which was carved into the memorial, was "I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness."
In late 2011, it was announced that the paraphrased quote would be replaced by the full one although, just looking at it, it's clear that the full one was just too darned long, which is why it was paraphrased in the first place.
In December 2012, it was announced that the quote would be sheered off completely and nothing at all would replace it. At the time of the announcement, they said the work would begin in February or March and be completed in the spring. The cost of this work, estimated to be $700,000 to $900,000, was to come out of a maintenance fund established by the Memorial Foundation.
This photo was taken in April 2013 and it was obvious the work hadn't begun yet. I suspect they're waiting for the cherry blossom crowds to finish before they start. |