Bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Greensboro

The bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Greensboro stands as a powerful tribute to the iconic leader of the Civil Rights Movement and his legacy of nonviolent resistance. Sculpted by Wilbur Lee Mapp, the bronze bust portrays Dr. King as he appeared on the day of his assassination, his gaze fixed thoughtfully into the distance. Originally unveiled in 1995 and cast from a cement model painted bronze, the sculpture has since undergone restoration and was re-cast in bronze following years of wear and vandalism.

Dr. King had been scheduled to speak in Greensboro on April 4, 1968, at Trinity AME Zion Church, but remained in Memphis, where he was tragically assassinated that very day. This poignant connection gives the monument added significance, anchoring Greensboro to the broader national story of the struggle for civil rights. The bust now rests on a granite base with inscribed plaques and weighs between 70 and 80 pounds. Measuring 22.5 inches high and 33 inches wide at the base, it serves as both a work of art and a historical marker.

The statue has had a journey of its own. It was first installed outside Project Homestead on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, later moved to the corner of South Elm Street and MLK Drive, where it suffered damage from time and traffic. In 2022, the newly restored and relocated bust was unveiled at the northeast corner of Bragg Street and MLK Drive, along a fresh stretch of Greensboro’s Downtown Greenway. This spot offers a safer, more visible home and a meaningful place for reflection.

Today, the monument stands not just as a likeness of Dr. King, but as a reminder of his unfinished work and the enduring hope he inspired.