Coleman A. Young (1918 – 1997) was the first African-American mayor of Detroit, Michigan. He served as mayor for 20 years from 1974 – 1994. Coleman served in World War II as a Tuskegee Airman as a second lieutenant. He was known for being outspoken against injustice and racial segregation. He protested against segregation while in the Army. Also, he was involved in the United Auto Workers (UAW) union and the National Negro Labor Council. He would continue to be the voice for black people as mayor of Detroit.
Mr. Young ran for mayor of Detroit when police brutality and racial strife was high. Detroit was still recovering from the riots of the 60’s. Also, racial segregation in public schools was a hot issue. The Detroit Police was using a program called STRESS (Stop the Robberies and Enjoy Safe Streets). STRESS was a decoy program used in black neighborhoods which resulted in police brutality, beatings, deaths, and lawsuits against the city. Upon Young’s election, he disbanded STRESS and issued his famous statement: “I issue open warnings now, to all dope pushers, to all rip-off artists, to all muggers, it’s time to leave Detroit; hit Eight Mile Road! And I don’t give a damn if they’re black or white, or if they wear Superfly suits or blue uniforms with silver badges; Hit the Road!”
Of course, the white population heard “hit Eight Mile Road” and they scattered to the suburbs to avoid living under an unapologetically black mayor. Young was an outspoken Negro who stood up for the rights of black Detroiters. They fled to the suburbs to avoid school integration. They ran to the suburbs to escape the inevitable change of black power. Mayor Young created systems where when a white police officer was promoted; a black officer would also receive a promotion. He appointed Detroit’s first black Chief of Police. In addition, he appointed the first black Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools. Furthermore, the Detroit City Council was changed from majority white to majority black with a black president.
Coleman A. Young has seen Detroit through its finest and darkest years. His administration has seen many accomplishments and failures. Examples of accomplishments include the building of downtown Detroit and its Renaissance (RenCen) skyscraper, Joe Louis Arena, Hart Plaza, and others. And failures include the high murder rate, high unemployment, and the heavy exit of population. The loss of population resulted in broken, derelict neighborhoods and loss of city income to provide city-wide services.
Many critics of the city either praise or blame Coleman Young. However, there is one undisputed truth. Coleman Young loved Detroit and Detroiters loved him back. Culture Blurb thanks Coleman A. Young for his service as a Tuskegee Airman and his legacy and impact on Detroit.