Dearborn, Michigan - Statue of Dearborn's Jaunty Racist Mayor

I work in Dearborn and see this statue almost every day -- he looks so friendly waving, I would have never guessed about his 'jaunty' attitude. I took some pics showing his views did not carry over into this era (notice the people waiting for the bus across the street). [Katie Merritt, 03/08/2006]

A plaque on the base of this statue notes that mayor Orville Hubbard -- captured in a life-size bronze waving to an imagined cheering crowd -- was "an effective administrator" who "made Dearborn known for punctual trash collection." But he was much better known for his campaign slogan: "Keep The Negroes Out Of Dearborn." During his 36 years as mayor he did just that. This was no small "accomplishment," as downtown Detroit -- whose population is over 80 percent black -- is only five miles away. Only 20 blacks lived in Dearborn (pop. 90,000) when Orville Hubbard left office in 1978. [Roadsideamerica.com Team, 10/31/2005]