The "Spirit of Detroit"

A good representation of the people of Detroit is a statue located in front of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center called, “Spirit of Detroit.” This bronze statue was created by the artist, Marshall Fredericks, and stands 26 feet tall. Benny Napoleon, a Wayne County Sheriff, says, “The Spirit of Detroit statue is a brand for our city; much broader than an image. It is Detroit.” Each part of the statue has significant meaning. The statue’s body represents man who lifts up the community. In the statue’s left hand it holds a sphere emitting rays symbolizing God and in its right hand it holds a family group symbolizing all human relationships. On a plaque in front of the statue it reads, “The artist expresses the concept that God, through the spirit of man is manifested in the family, the noblest human relationship.” The statue represents what were all about in Detroit- heart, soul, passion, and faith in our city and its people. When visiting the “Spirit of Detroit”, you may see one of the sports team’s jerseys on it if a team has made it to the playoffs. This shows the passion and support the fans have for their sports teams.

I love seeing this statue and the meaning it has behind it. It is a beautiful work of art and gives people pride to say they are from Detroit. It tells people what is important in life and that even though Detroit has had some rough times we can still move forward.