Hope Moving Forward facts for kids
 Location in Atlanta
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Coordinates | 33°45′17″N 84°24′15″W / 33.754593°N 84.404168°W |
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| Location | Northside Drive, Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Designer | Basil Watson |
| Type | Statue |
| Material | Bronze |
| Height | 18 feet (5.5 m) |
| Dedicated to | Martin Luther King Jr. |
Hope Moving Forward is a special public monument in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was officially shown to the public in 2021. This monument includes a bronze statue of Martin Luther King Jr.. It was designed by the artist Basil Watson and stands on a pedestal. You can find it where Northside Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive meet.
The Story Behind the Statue
The "Hope Moving Forward" statue was officially dedicated in 2021. A small ceremony marked the event. The mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, was there.
A talented sculptor from Jamaica, Basil Watson, created the statue. His design was chosen from about 80 different ideas! This statue is the second one honoring Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta in just four years. Another statue of King was put up at the Georgia State Capitol in 2017.
"Hope Moving Forward" is also the first of seven new statues planned by the city of Atlanta. These statues will honor King and other important people. A month after this statue was dedicated, Atlanta also showed new bronze statues of other civil rights leaders. These included Dorothy Lee Bolden, Rita Jackson Samuels, W. A. Scott, and Hosea Williams.
What the Statue Looks Like
The statue of King is 12 feet (3.7 m) tall. It stands on a pedestal that is 6 feet (1.8 m) tall. The statue is made of bronze. It shows King letting a dove fly from his right hand.
Basil Watson, the sculptor, explained his idea. He said it showed how his understanding of Martin Luther King Jr. grew. He wanted to show the main message King shared with the world.
The monument is located near the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. On the front of the pedestal, you can read: "DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. / January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968 / Dedicated by the / CITY of ATLANTA / 2021 / "HOPE MOVING FORWARD" / Sculptor: BASIL WATSON". Also, a famous quote from King is written on the base: "Hate cannot drive out hate; Only love can do that".
See also
- 2021 in art
- Memorials to Martin Luther King Jr.
- Civil rights movement in popular culture
