I perceive Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy as leading Americans to make change and become more aware of what America could become. I also see Dr. King’s actions as guidance on how to cope with suffering when faced with inequality. Dr. King’s practice of nonviolence has been passed down to peace protest movements in my home island, Okinawa.

Each time I read his words, Dr. King’s speeches give me courage as an individual. In his “I Have a Dream” speech, repeating that single phrase becomes similar to musical lyrics, inviting listeners more and more with every line. Listeners get involved, repeat the message and feel like part of the rhythm.

The “I Have a Dream” flags reference Dr. King’s speech in 1963. I admire American history and the people involved in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement that impacted the world.

The flags were created with the Okinawan traditional Bingata dye method. The linen fabric maintains a natural, sculptural curve due to the strength of the fiber. The words become sculpture; they are transformed in shape, suggesting that these words can be adapted in many different directions.