The “Embrace” sculpture honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was unveiled in Boston over the weekend just in time for Martin Luther King Jr. day and it has sparked a lot of criticism. The actual sculpture represents the hug Dr. King and Coretta Scott King shared after he won the Nobel Peace Price in 1964. It was been extremely well received by many however it has also sparked some criticism from people of all walks of life. The cousin of Coretta Scott King, Seneca Scott, said “Art is powerful and the pen is mightier than the sword. I get all of that. But that does not bring people together,” Scott said. “It was an atrocity.” Martin Luther King III says that art is subjective and that everyone is entitled to their own opinions adding “It’s called ‘Embrace’ and I think the artist did a great job. I’m satisfied,” King III said. “Yeah, it didn’t have my mom and dad’s images, but it represents something that brings people together.” And in regards to the sculptor who created the “Embrace,” Hank Willis Thomas, says “This is a piece that was selected by the people of Boston. This is not: ‘Hank just came and put something.’ Thousands of people worked on this. Thousands of people actually put it together, and no one saw this — I would say — perverse perspective,” Thomas said. “Good art asks questions and what you see says a lot, and so I’m asking you: ‘What do you see?’ I see the power of love to transform society. Other people see other things.”
If you were on social media at all this weekend, however, you saw the negative comments and the backlash the sculpture has received. Below are some of the comments from people including some celebrities who have, let’s just say, very strong opinions about what they feel the sculpture looks like.
Boston, MA – January 13: Guests gather around the Embrace sculpture after its unveiling at Boston Common. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
