ABSTRACT
The birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. is celebrated with parades in many American cities. Baltimore, Maryland’s parade takes place on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, a thoroughfare whose very name is a source of pride for the inhabitants of this largely African-American cityincluding the Mayor, City Council President, and a majority of the City Council. The association of Dr. King with social justice is indisputable; yet in 2011, Baltimore City leaders were less concerned with recognizing Dr. King’s achievements than with advancing their jurisdiction’s image as prospering and progressive.
