The Embrace

“The Embrace” is a bronze sculpture created by artist Hank Willis Thomas, installed on Boston Common in December 2022. The artwork commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, depicting four intertwined arms symbolizing the embrace they shared following his receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The sculpture stands 20 feet tall and 25 feet wide, with a weight of 19 tons.

The design underscores the Kings’ dedication to nonviolence and the significance of love in their civil rights movement efforts. It is located within the 1965 Freedom Plaza, which honors 69 civil rights leaders in Boston from the 1950s through the 1970s.