Coretta Scott King

In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Coretta Scott King’s graduation from New England Conservatory, the college will host “Embracing Coretta,” a concert in her honor.

“The Embrace,” a sculptural monument by artist Hank Willis Thomas and MASS Design Group honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, brings a new and dynamic piece of public art to Boston’s portfolio of straightforward statues.

A striking monument to the love of civil rights icons Coretta Scott King and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — years in the making — was unveiled on the Boston Common last Friday during a landmark event celebrating the full history and culture of Black Boston.

Boston shares a distinction with Montgomery, Alabama; Chester, Pennsylvania; and Atlanta, Georgia. They are the only places the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King lived for any length of time during his 39 years on earth. Yet, unlike these other cities that King once called home — and many other major U.S. cities — Boston has until now had no major monument to the slain civil rights leader.