Martin Luther King Jr. statue unveiled at Hart Plaza ahead of anniversary march in Detroit

When a crowd of 150 people shuffled out from under a tent and into the rain for the unveiling of a new statue at Hart Plaza on Friday, umbrellas aloft, exalted shouts of joy and awe went up as Detroiters saw the artwork for the first time: Martin Luther King Jr. standing at a podium, his mouth open mid-declaration, one arm stretched up toward the heavens.

The life-size sculpture reveal was timed with the 60th anniversary of King’s historic 1963 Walk to Freedom down Woodward Avenue, where he debuted a version of his “I Have a Dream” speech two months before delivering it in Washington, D.C.

The unveiling was preceded by a lively ceremony with a host of speakers and live entertainment by the Nanou Djiapo African Drummers.

“History isn’t just what’s in the books you read in the classroom,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “It’s in the images you see around. And in this city, history has been lacking. You drive down Woodward and go through Grand Circus Park, you’ll see monuments to mayors from more than a century ago. You drive around the city, and you’ll see monuments to generals from the Revolutionary War, from the War of 1812, from the Civil War. You will see monuments to businessmen and poets and priests from more than a century ago.

“But, with the exception of the monument to the Underground Railroad (also located in Hart Plaza), you know what you don’t see? Any Black history, any images that celebrate (those) accomplishments.”

Duggan discussed efforts to correct that, like appointing Jamon Jordan as the city’s first official historian, rededicating Chene Park as The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre and the creation of the Joe Louis Greenway.

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He told the crowd the artwork behind his desk in the mayor’s office is a photo of King’s 1963 Detroit march, adding, “and I am struck by the number of people who come into the office and say, ‘What’s that?’ ”

“I have to retell the story,” he said. “But after today, you won’t have to visit the mayor’s office. … Instead, every family and children in Detroit who come to the city center will be reminded that this was the place that Dr. King gave the students … pride and aspiration (for) America, and they can be proud.”

Detroit Arts and Culture Director Rochelle Riley said Detroit has long been at the forefront of American history, "being a major stop on the Underground Railroad, putting the world on wheels … And Detroit played a major role in the evolution of the Civil Rights Movement — that was not limited to the South. Of course, Dr. King would come to Detroit. And now, thanks to this monument we unveil today, he will always be in Detroit.”

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson spoke about voting rights history and lauded the recent introduction of a Michigan Voting Rights Act, proposed legislation that would "restore and strengthen the rights of the Federal Voting Rights Act that have been undermined, and will enable us to protect every voice and every vote in the future.”

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Benson pointed out state Sen. Erika Geiss, who co-sponsored the legislation, and recalled three years ago when, during the 2020 election, angry mobs formed with the intention of seeing that Detroit votes went uncounted.

“I’m proud that in a time when, nationally, the Voting Rights Act is diminishing in power,” Benson said, “here in Michigan, we’re going to stand up and we’re going to take the lead.”

Other speakers included Cass Technical High School sophomore Zora Nunley, who recited "I Have a Dream"; the Rev. Dr. Mayowa Lisa Reynolds, who brought the audience to its feet with screaming approval of a tub-thumping celebration of Black history scored by the drummers; the Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, whose fiery, funny political tirade capped off the speaking portion, and Detroit NAACP president the Rev. Wendell Anthony, who has held that position since 1993. With the pre-unveiling ceremony set in a large tent, the proceedings took on the feel of a righteous revival, complete with testimonies.

"What a great day to be in Detroit," Dyson said. "What a great day to be from Detroit! Detroit is a magnificent spectacle of the process and progress of democracy, and Dr. King came here first to work it out before he got to Washington, D.C. Because people understand, if you can do it in Detroit, you can do it anywhere. Detroit is a citadel of safety for democracy.

"We are grateful to celebrate this man of faith who was also a man of action."

Sculptor Stan Watts began working on the piece in 2005 and completed it in 2010. He and Riley previously conspired with Duggan to get a bust of Detroit-born, New York theater legend Woodie King moved from New York to Detroit, where it now lives at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The statue of Martin Luther King Jr. was commissioned by a businessman they, together, convinced to donate the sculpture to the city of Detroit.

“I’ve had work unveiled before,” Watts told the Free Press regarding the ceremony, “but I’ve never seen anything like this. This is one of the most inspiring, exciting events I’ve ever seen.”

Watts is already working on a sculpture of Rosa Parks, which city officials hope will occupy space near the King statue in Hart Plaza in the future. He’s enjoyed working with and in Detroit so much that he’s now considering establishing a studio here.

“While I’m doing the Rosa Parks statue,” he said, “I would love to get children from the city involved with the work, to put clay on it … so they understand the importance of being involved. I have that dream. I have many dreams, but this dream is that they grow up knowing they were a part of history.”

Detroit NAACP executive board member Brandon Jessup brought his two small children with him for that same reason.

“My parents brought me to stuff like this when I was younger. That’s what you’re supposed to do. My dad signed me up as a member of the Detroit branch of the NAACP in the early 1990s.”

Jessup, who grew up to lead a life of service to the Detroit community, said, “I’m glad to serve now, and hopefully my kids will be in that same space when they get older.

“This is what it’s all about.”

The Detroit NAACP will hold a 60th commemorative freedom walk at 10 a.m. on Saturday, beginning at Woodward Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. It will end at noon in Hart Plaza, where a Freedom Walk Rally will take place around the statue. To register or volunteer, go to www.detroitnaacp.org/mlk-walk.

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Martin Luther King Jr. statue unveiled at Detroit's Hart Plaza