A fuss about a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King

NPR just reported on a memorial going up to recognize Dr. King's work. Among other things, there is a planned 30-foot statue of him. That's all good.

Some people are upset that the man chosen to sculpt it is Chinese. Not just by descent, but by nationality. Arguments have been made that China's human rights' record is relevant, but I'm not sure I buy that. I smell racism.

Now, I'm just a white boy, a young one, and one who has never had the chance to read much about Dr. King, so feel free to call me various names and insult my intelligence.

But saying that an African American sculptor is more appropriate- I just don't think that's appropriate. I can understand that an African American sculptor would personally feel far more pride than a Chinese national would working on this statue. But that's not what the fuss is about.

In my thinking, why does a statue of Dr. King have to be done by an African American? Doesn't the idea of a white man building the statue of an icon (if not the most significant) of the message that white supremacy is a terrible thing, ring with poetic justice?