Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with visit from King Boston Leader

To honor the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., Belmont Hill hosted Imari Paris Jeffries to talk about the legacy of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King and to update us on the work of King Boston. Mr. Paris Jeffries is the executive director of King Boston, a program of the Boston Foundation working closely with the City of Boston to create a living memorial to the Kings, and their time and work together in Boston. The memorial is intended to inspire visitors to reflect on the values of racial and economic justice that both espoused. The memorial, entitled "The Embrace," will be anchored on Boston Common, where, in 1965, Dr. King called Boston to live by its highest ideals. When it is completed, with a dedication currently planned for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend 2023, the Embrace will provide a living space for conversation, education and reflection on the racial and economic justice ideals of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, and serve as a permanent monument to the Kings’ time in Boston, a period in which they attended college, met and fell in love, and which helped shape their approach to a just and equitable society. The monument is an abstract interpretation of an iconic photo of them hugging.
 
Caleb Collins '93, Belmont Hill director of community and diversity, moderated the virtual Q & A session held over Zoom.