Un-monument: Public Programming

Working with The Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, the Friends of the Public Garden, and Embrace Boston, the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture will host a series of public conversions at The Embrace about democracy and justice, inviting people to think about interconnections between monuments, public memory, and daily lives.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “Boston must become a testing ground for the ideals of freedom.” This means the freedom to gather and exchange ideas and deliberate on our common destiny. 

Our goal is to invigorate public space by bringing rich conversations into the broader public, using The Embrace and the Kings' legacy as a spur. Together, we can create a space for broader expressions of the powerful diversity and complexity of American stories.

Following the public conversations, free events facilitated by local artists and cultural leaders will be held in relaxed settings, such as local restaurants, to continue the conversation and deepen public engagement.