Edition No. 14
In this Edition
Arts and Culture
Erected almost a decade ago, learn the unique history behind the memorial dedicated to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Community and Family
Recall a notable moment in local history when Dr. King visited Grosse Pointe South High School in March 1968, just a few weeks before his death.
Our American Values
Listen to a discussion centered around Dr. King’s vision of economic justice and the comparison between the Civil Rights Era and today.
Love and Peace and Humanity
Building the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
It seems almost strange that the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial only found its permanent residence at the D.C. Tidal Basin in 2011. Given how integral the teachings of Dr. King are to our nation, it feels shocking that a symbolic representation of his impact is so new. From its initial concept, design work, and building process, the erection of this memorial encompasses all that is the life and legacy of Dr. King.
A 2011 Smithsonian Magazine article shares the process of bringing this memorial to life. From an architectural firm with a unique connection, a concept derived from King’s own words, and prominent placement between two presidential memorials, this structure holds greatness almost as profound as the man who inspired it.
Check out a 360-degree virtual tour of the memorial using the video embedded on this blog, or read the full article here.
March 14, 1968
“The Other America”
This March will mark fifty-three years since the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Grosse Pointe. And while Grosse Pointe is a special place filled with its own cultural relevancy, the historical significance of Dr. King’s visit (during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and only a few weeks prior to his assassination) is not lost on us.
Martin Luther King, Jr. at Grosse Pointe South High School.
Courtesy of The Grosse Pointe Historical Society.
On March 14, 1968, King addressed a crowd of over two-thousand in the gymnasium at Grosse Pointe South High School. In his speech titled “The Other America,” King challenged the community to address the nation’s race problem, face their own biases, and engage in thoughtful and honest conversations to move forward. As expected, that evening drew the attention of many naysayers and those who adamantly disregarded and discredited Dr. King’s rhetoric (he was heckled over thirty times during his speech and over one hundred protestors gathered outside the gymnasiums that evening). However, as to the credit of much of his legacy, Dr. King was not deterred by hateful comments. This speech, similar to many others he gave, examined and critiqued race, poverty, and militarism, as he aimed to emphasize his vision of a world where equality was holistic.
And now, in 2021, as our nation feels deeply divided again, we feel it appropriate to highlight this local moment in history. A catalyst for change, Dr. King’s words spoken that evening in 1968 serve as a reminder that to build a more perfect union moving forward, we must learn from the mistakes of our past.
Read the full speech here, courtesy of our friends at The Grosse Pointe Historical Society.
King and Economic Justice
Although he was assassinated in Memphis helping sanitation workers secure a living wage and safer working conditions, the economic justice aspect of Dr. King’s work is often overlooked. In a 2013 episode of MOYERS on Democracy, Theologian James Cone and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Taylor Branch discuss Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision of economic justice and consider how little has really changed for many of America’s most vulnerable people between the Civil Rights Era and today.
Click or tap here to view the full video, which runs about 34 minutes.
“Justice is so central for King and why poverty became the focus of his ministry after civil rights and voting rights — because civil rights and voting rights are not going to get rid of poverty…”
Inspired Thoughts is a collection of highly curated content that embraces the spirit and purpose of The War Memorial: arts and culture, community enrichment, leadership, and patriotism.
Derived from the notion that learning from others is the key to success, Inspired Thoughts is meant to shine a light on those making a difference in the world around them. This collection features artists, poets, writers, architects, and every thought leader in-between. Inspired Thoughts is the strongest reflection of what The War Memorial stands for, and what we aim to be.
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