2 Coleman Young statues planned for Detroit, Washington D.C.

October 26, 2026

The Coleman A. Young Foundation is spearheading an initiative to place a statue of Detroit's first Black mayor in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall, where it would replace a statue of Lewis Cass, a former territorial governor who owned slaves and facilitated Native American removal. The project has secured $1.

Who is affected

Coleman A. Young (deceased former Detroit mayor being honored)
Black Detroiters and Black children (referenced as beneficiaries of representation)
Lewis Cass (his statue will be replaced and relocated)
Austen Brantley (sculptor creating the statue)
Coleman A. Young Foundation and its scholarship recipients
Coleman A. Young II (Young's son, current Detroit City Council president pro tempore)
Taylor Segue III, Ronald Dean, and other former associates of Young
Michigan residents (state representation in U.S. Capitol)
Event attendees including current and former Detroit mayors (Mary Sheffield, Mike Duggan, Dennis Archer, Kwame Kilpatrick, Ken Cockrel Jr., Dave Bing)
Former state senator Adam Hollier (resolution creator)
Organizations funding the project (Bedrock, Kresge Foundation, DTE Foundation, Knight Foundation)

What action is being taken

The Coleman A. Young Foundation is raising funds for the statue initiative (still needs $3-5 million)
Austen Brantley is refining the statue's anatomy, clothing, and likeness
Bedrock is funding $250,000 toward a second statue near the Renaissance Center
The foundation is accepting donations through its website
Jeff Horner is teaching a course on Coleman A. Young at Wayne State University (taught three times since 2023)

Why it matters

This initiative represents a significant symbolic shift in how Michigan presents itself nationally, replacing a slave-owning figure who participated in Native American removal with the state's first Black mayor and a transformative 20th-century political figure. The statue honors Young's legacy of breaking racial barriers, championing economic development, reforming police practices, and creating opportunities for Black Detroiters in city government. It serves as representation for Black children and communities, demonstrating that they belong in powerful spaces and positions of leadership. The placement in the U.S. Capitol validates Young's impact beyond Detroit, recognizing him as emblematic of Michigan's values and history, while also acknowledging a more complete and inclusive narrative of the state's legacy that includes civil rights leadership, labor activism, and military service.

What's next

Complete fundraising of an additional $3-5 million for the project
Transport the statue to Washington DC
Remove the Lewis Cass statue and send it to the Historical Society of Michigan in Lansing
Host ceremonial events for the installation in both Washington DC and Detroit
Install the second statue along the east riverfront as part of the Renaissance Center redevelopment project

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com