Who is coleman young

By , he had proven himself as a leader and was elected Democratic minority floor leader. He spent ten years in Lansing before declaring his candidacy for mayor of the City of Detroit in During his tenure, Detroit completed several impressive projects, including the opening of the Renaissance Center , the creation of the Detroit People Mover and the construction of Joe Louis Arena.

Young was married and divorced twice, and fathered a son through another relationship. That son, Coleman A. Young also helped found the National Negro Labor Council in Young's progressive actions led to a confrontation with the House Un-American Activities Committee in , when it accused him of being a Communist subversive. For the rest of the s, Young survived with the few jobs he could find, such as working in insurance sales and driving a cab.

Still interested in politics, Young unsuccessfully ran to become a state representative in He was elected to the Michigan Senate in Young would go on to win the position of vice chairman of the DNC. In , Young won election as the first black mayor of Detroit. References Heather Thompson, Whose Detroit?

Inauguration of Coleman A. Young View Document. Explore The Archives. Lyrics for Campaign Songs View Document. After several run-ins with company management, Young was fired from the company after a bloody dispute with a foreman. He also worked for the U. Postal Service and at local steel mills.

In , Young was drafted into the U. Army, serving as an infantry second lieutenant before switching to the Army Air Forces and training with the Tuskegee Airmen, the all-black fighter pilot group that achieved a distinguished combat record in the war.

Always known as a leader, outspoken, and a radical, Young often spoke out on and protested unfair practices in the Army. In , Young was discharged as a second lieutenant. Considered too radical by labor and management, it was difficult for Young to find work in the s.

So, he found himself working odd jobs, such as selling insurance, driving a cab, and painting. But his interest in politics persisted. Having built a rapport with black Detroiters, especially within the auto industry, Young decided to run for public office.