nwasianweekly.com
Sept. 29, 2007

Photo provided by MLK National Memorial Foundation

Chinese artist Lei Yixin has been chosen by the MLK Memorial Foundation to sculpt a three-story monument of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington, D.C.

Asian artist’s MLK tribute: don’t judge by skin color

This global village is getting smaller by the day thanks to e-mail, cell phones, fax machines and the Internet. Technology has allowed people who live oceans apart to feel closer to each other than ever before. The result is more cross-cultural friendships and business partnerships, global trade and idea sharing — all of which help increase understanding and respect for different ways of thinking, living, creating and working.

This is why we support the MLK Memorial Foundation’s decision to hire a Chinese artist to create a monument of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Sculptor Lei Yixin isn’t the first to be caught in a controversy of this kind, nor will he be the last, as racial and geographical boundaries continue to blur in the 21st century.

Critics of the decision believe an African American artist should be in charge of the King tribute. But the 12-person selection committee, 10 of whom are black, chose Lei, one of a handful of artists considered national treasures by the Chinese government. “The bottom line is Dr. King’s message that we should judge a person not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character,” said Harry Johnson, the foundation’s president and CEO. “In this situation, we’re talking about the artistic character.”

There’s been news that Lei’s selection came with a $25 million donation from the Chinese government. This is an interesting piece of information, but it’s not a good reason to denounce the artist selection. It’s shortsighted to believe that the project belongs only in the hands of an African American artist.

For the 2008 Olympics, China has contracted with firms all over the world to design and build its facilities. The glass pyramid at the Louvre museum in Paris was created by Chinese American architect I.M. Pei. The NBA and Major League Baseball regularly go overseas to scout for talent. Over the years, several Chinese gymnasts have been sent to the U.S. to train. And at least two Caucasians help coach China’s current World Cup women’s soccer team. (In fact, it’s common for the world’s top soccer teams to hire coaches from countries outside their own.)

The point is, it’s OK to ask someone of a different race or ethnicity to do the work. You might be pleasantly surprised by the ideas put forth by a person who was raised under different cultural norms. They may reach for different materials or raise questions you might have never thought of. That’s one great thing about diversity in the workplace: Different people bring about different ideas.
And just because that person looks different doesn’t mean he or she won’t understand you. Much criticism followed when Pei was hired for the Louvre project. The French claimed he didn’t know enough about the country’s culture and history to take on the noteworthy project. But when they quizzed Pei on the art, culture and history of France, he surprised them with his detailed knowledge and insight.

Artist Lei, for his part, said he hopes his monument of King will convey a message of equality. “Martin Luther King hoped that everyone would be brothers and sisters no matter the color of their skin or their social status, that they would all enjoy the same opportunities and rights,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press after he was selected.

It’s not because the artist is Asian that we support his selection. It’s about respecting the decision of the committee, the vast majority of which is made up of African Americans. They did not make this decision hastily. They knew it would create controversy. But sometimes you have to make the unpopular choice; what’s important is that you do it for the right reasons.

In this case, it’s about living up to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of equality and opportunity for all.

Send correspondence to:
Northwest Asian Weekly • P.O. Box 3468 • Seattle • WA  98114
Tel: 206.223.5559 •  Fax: 206.223.0626 • Email: info@nwasianweekly.com
Please bookmark this site: www.nwasianweekly.com.