Basic Black: What will The Embrace bring for the future of Boston and the world?

Part of a large bronze sculpture shows a hand holding onto an arm. — A detail of the 20-foot-high bronze sculpture The Embrace, shows a hand with a bracelet, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in the Boston Common, in Boston. The sculpture, a memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, consisting of four intertwined arms, was inspired by a photo of the Kings embracing when MLK learned he had won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The statue is to be unveiled during ceremonies Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.

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Kenrick Mercado is the Associate Producer for Basic Black at GBH.

Produced live at WGBH Studios in Boston, Basic Black is the longest-running program on public television focusing on the interests of people of color. The show, which was originally called Say Brother, was created in 1968 during the height of the civil rights movement as a response to the demand for public television programs reflecting the concerns of communities of color. Each episode features a panel discussion across geographic borders and generational lines with the most current stories, interviews and commentaries.

January 13, 2023

Updated August 28, 2023

The Embrace, a 20-foot tall and 40-foot wide bronze sculpture now sits on the Boston Common, the first new memorial in more than a century.

Embrace Boston, the foundation responsible for the sculpture, selected artist Hank Willis Thomas and his inspired re-creation of the moment the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King embraced after he learned he won the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.

The honor was a high point in the lives of the couple who first met in Boston, committing to each other and to their life’s work as civil rights activists. Now, the sculpture represents a new connection to Boston Common’s vibrant 400-year history as a gathering space for visitors and residents alike.

This week on Basic Black, we discuss the historic unveiling of The Embrace memorial on Boston Common and how it honors the Kings’ legacies for communities of color. Host Callie Crossley will be joined by: L’Merchie Frazier, executive director of creative strategies, SPOKE; Imari Paris Jeffries, executive director, Embrace Boston; and Tito Jackson, CEO and founder of Apex Noire Cannabis.

Watch the latest episode of Basic Black tonight at 7:30 p.m. on GBH 2 or live at the stream below. You can also watch on the GBH News YouTube channel. Subscribe to get notifications for future premiere episodes.

Kenrick Mercado is the Associate Producer for Basic Black at GBH.

Basic Black: What will The Embrace bring for the future of Boston and the world?

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