Reflections on the Building of the Martin Luther King National Memorial in Washington, DC

According to the National Park Service, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is the fifth-most frequently visited memorial on the National Mall, after the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial, in that order. Similar to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the King Memorial generated its share of controversy. As national historian for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (AΦA), I served on the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Project Foundation, Inc., from 1999 to 2001. And as a member of AΦA’s board of directors, I observed the planning, development, construction, and dedication of the King National Memorial.

Harris, Robert L. “Reflections on the Building of the Martin Luther King National Memorial in Washington, DC.” The Journal of African American History 103, no. 3 (June 1, 2018): 402–17. https://doi.org/10.1086/698524.