Changes are coming to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C., reports The Root.
Several King supporters are up in arms about a quote engraved on the monument’s Stone of Hope saying, “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.” Dr. Maya Angelou is among the supporters concerned about the stone’s wording and firmly believes the quote is out of context and makes the leader sound “arrogant,” reports the Washington Post.
The words engraved aren’t exactly what King said in a speech two months before his death, but appear to be paraphrased. King actually said, “Yes, if you want to say 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.”
To calm fears and ease nerves, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced grooves will be carved over the quote to match the existing marks and cracks on the sculpture. The original sculptor insists this is the best method to preserve the structural integrity of the monument, according to a CNN report.
Salazar said he is proud all parties have come together on a resolution that will help preserve the integrity of the monument and King’s legacy.
Construction to correct the matter is set to begin in February or March 2013 and will continue through the end of the spring.