The twin cities of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor are one step closer to completing a unity project celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The St. Joseph City Commission on Monday approved the Unified Civic Monuments Project’s final design for a monument to be constructed in the Margaret B. Upton Arboretum along the St. Joseph River, much to the delight of project supporters and collaborators in attendance.
“It took hard work, but we pulled it off,” said Benton Harbor Commissioner and project co-chair Edward Isom, who informed the council Benton Harbor approved its design in December. “The main thing I love about this project is the unity. … These two cities can come together and unite, and this project is doing that.”
The St. Joseph design will feature Dr. King walking forward, with one arm up, gesturing toward the sky and Benton Harbor. His right hand will rest on the shoulders of a young black girl, who is feeding a dove from her hand. A slightly older white girl will stand beside them, releasing a dove toward Benton Harbor.
Below is a sketch of what the monument will look like:
According to the project proposal, the young black girl “represents the contribution of countless black women who nurtured and supported the civil rights movement,” while the older girl’s gesture mirrors Dr. King’s with the hope that she understands his message.
There will also be nine milestone markers leading up to the monument with important civil rights dates and events, as well as two benches and the following quote:
“He allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. Tonight I am happy.”
All elements placed at the top of the arboretum hill, where a gazebo currently sits. St. Joseph Mayor Laura Goos said the gazebo will be torn down to make room for the monument. Because of its location, the next phase of the project will be hiring an engineering firm to make the monument ADA accessible.
The Benton Harbor monument will be located at Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park, and will feature Dr. King and a young boy with a quote from King and some stools for people to sit and reflect. The monument will roughly be facing St. Joseph.
“This came from a journey we started in the summer of 2020, which was sort of the summer of social justice and it brought two cities together,” Goos said. “And it will continue to bring us together.”
For more on the project, visit unifiedmonuments.org/
