Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Inscription Will Be Corrected

A paraphrased quote will be changed to reflect what the civil rights legend actually said.
By Joyce Jones
Posted: 01/13/2012 05:50 PM EST
Filed Under redistricting, Washington, D.C., civil rights movement, voting rights, National News, Martin Luther King Jr.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall has withstood many things, least of which was the hurricane that postponed its original dedication date. But more disturbing to some, at least, was an inaccurate quote from the civil rights legend. Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar has given the National Park Service a 30-day deadline to correct the quotation.

 

“I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness,” a paraphrased quote on the monument reads. Poet and author Maya Angelou said that the paraphrased quotation makes King “look like an arrogant twit.”

 

What King actually said was, “If you want to say that 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.”

 

The correction is “important because Dr. King and his presence on the Mall is a forever presence for the United States of America, and we have to make sure that we get it right,” Salazar said.

 

 

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world.

Videos You May Like

Comments

Trends
Oliver Lewis •Sports News •Kentucky Derby •Ciara •Rihanna •Kimora Lee Simmons •Willow Smith •Niecy Nash •Christina Milian •Angela Simmons •Chris Brown •LL Cool J •Zoe Saldana •Steve Harvey •Jada Pinkett-Smith •Celebrity Videos •Rita Ora •Celebrity News •Halle Berry •Tamar Braxton •Brandy •Swizz Beatz •Out and About •Evelyn Lozada •Chad Johnson •Celebrity Scandal •Probation •gun violence •New Orleans •Akein Scott •

The Dos and Don’ts of Winning the Lottery

Hitting the jackpot can have serious consequences. 11/28/2012

Sports Rewind: Turkish Soccer Team Plans to Don Blackface

Plus, Chad Johnson faces arrest warrant, Beckham retires. 05/16/2013

Cash Kings: 15 Highest Paid Black Athletes

"Money" Mayweather and more top-earning stars. 05/15/2013

Out and About: Mariah Carey On Stage at American Idol Season Finale

Plus pics of Kim K., Amber Rose, Drake and more. 05/17/2013

Dirty Laundry: Scandalous Details Artists Reveal in Songs

Kelly Rowland is just the latest musician to air things out. 05/15/2013

Brainiacs: Celebs Who Attended Ivy League Schools

Who walked the halls of Harvard, Princeton and Yale? 05/16/2013

SEARCH

© 2013 BET Interactive, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Black Entertainment Television LLC. All rights reserved.