With Black History Month less than three months away, there is one name that will soon be on everyone’s lips: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. King’s legacy and powerful words continue to inspire, challenge, and motivate.  To ensure the continuance of that legacy, Harry Johnson is spearheading the campaign for a national memorial in honor of Dr. King. 

As President of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc., a project of Alpha Phi Alpha, Johnson is in-charge of the fundraising, design, and construction of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial.

Johnson recently spoke with Sixshot.com about the one-hundred million dollar project, why it’s relevant, why arguments against the erection of the memorial are unfair, and he provides his views on the legacy of Dr. King.

This project has been twenty years in the making.  What were some of the challenges you faced in trying to get this memorial established?

Some of the obstacles we have faced include finding the land that this would go on. That was a struggle in and of itself because land is very precious in[Washington] D.C. especially on the Mall. We believe we have the last site on the Mall as we now know it.  Other c hallenges included the design element and what the design would look like.  We did an international competition and had over nine hundred entries from over fifty two different countries.  In addition, we have to convince people to give us a million dollars or to give us five dollars for this memorial.  Those are just a few of the things we have gone through.

I’m sure that in trying to convince people you encountered some negative feedback.  What were some of those arguments you faced against the building of this memorial?

Well I think outside of Washington D.C. and other places people say, “Well why doesn’t the federal government build it?”  That was one compelling argument.  Why are we raising private funds to build this?  The other argument is that we don’t do memorials and why should we do this one?  And so you try to talk to them and say, “Here is a unique opportunity to have a footprint in history akin to bringing the Statue of Liberty here.”  But there is also the fact that this is something that’s needed. The federal government just doesn’t build memorials anymore but they give you the land and allow you to build it after they approve of the idea.  Afterwards we turn the title over to the federal government.  So it was a challenge in that vein but it’s a good challenge.

Some people would argue that all the money being raised for the MLK Memorial—of which you have eighty-two of the one hundred million needed—would be better used for other projects concerning the advancement of African-Americans.  For example, they would argue this money could be used for after-school programs, community centers, and such.  What’s your response?

I think there’s enough money going around or can be raised to go to any program.  We have worked very hard to raise this money specifically for this memorial to make sure individuals will be able to come to Washington D.C. and see Dr. King in his proper perspective.  My argument is, if not us who, and if not now when? I want to commend the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and this foundation for having the insight to want to see this done, and for recognizing that we need to honor our country's heroes especially heroes such as Martin Luther King, Jr.  I think it’s going to go a long way in helping to educate African-Americans and people all over the world who come and see that there is an African-American on the Mall here in America.

It will give us an appreciation for our American heritage and history.  I believe there are other avenues and ways to receive money.  There are others who are trying to raise money to do more and more with social programs and other avenues of supporting our communities and I commend them for that.  I would love to help them with that.  But I do think that this is a specific purpose we raised this money for and it does have to be done.

You alluded to the fact that it has to be done because there’s a very symbolic meaning behind it as well.

Without question, I mean we go to Washington D.C. all the time and visitors come to Washington D.C. and they see the heroes of this country.  But they don’t see women, they don’t see people of color, and they don’t see that heritage on the Mall.  So I think people ought to come here and say, “America is just not about a certain segment of the population, but is in fact a very diverse country.”  And then to put a modern-day hero such as Martin Luther King Jr. on the Mall between a [Abraham] Lincoln and [Thomas] Jefferson memorial puts it in its proper perspective of who Dr. King was, and what this country means to people.

With the Jena Six news story and the recent debates surrounding race many people bring up the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.  However, they sometimes overlook his economic views on issues.  Do you think economic issues need to be discussed more often when we talk about issues of race?

I think we should always talk about economic issues.  You’re certainly right Dr. King always talked about the economic issues regarding the advancement of individuals black, white, and brown who were poor and in need of help.  So I think it’s a topic that should always be open for discussion.

He was focused like you said on all people and nowadays some people fail to point that out.  Is that something you’re disappointed with?

Well not disappointed with, but I do try to call to everyone's attention that Dr. King was really there for all mankind and humankind.  Although we would love to claim him as only African-American—Dr. King was a leader in his own right for all humanity and justice anywhere.

There appears to be a generation gap.  Those of the Martin Luther King Jr. generation can perhaps relate more easily to his message and legacy compared to the younger generation of today.  What do you think needs to happen to bridge that gap?

Well I think to bridge that gap we need to discuss history a little bit more and the relevancy of Dr. King.  We actually did a study a few years ago with Parade magazine that talked about the fact that young people today understand Dr. King and understand the role he played. 

However they do not understand the relevancy of him and his work.  So we need to teach the relevancy of Dr. King and the fact that Dr. King changed the United States during the 1960’s and indeed the world. He was a change agent for all of us so we need to teach that message.

In reflecting on Dr. King and his advocacy some people begin to wonder how do we measure racial progress in this country?

Well I would have to say that we are making progress.  Yes, there are some setbacks from time to time but I think as we go forward we just try to listen to Dr. King’s words, heed his words, and try to fulfill his words.

Is there a particular passage from a Dr. King speech that resonates deeply with you?

Well the main one to me is that “We should not judge a person by the color of his skin but by the content of his character.” Character sums it up that if you have integrity, if you have honesty, if you have peace with yourself then I need to judge you on that and not because of the way you walk, talk, or what you say; but how you carry yourself.

And where is progress at now for the memorial—I believe you need eighteen million dollars?

We are pushing hard to start construction before the end of the year if not the first part of next year.  But we are due to have this thing completed and open to the public in 2009.  So we’re really excited at the fact that this is coming to fruition. 

For more information please visit:
www.mlkmemorial.org