Public Invited To Share Stories Of Coleman A. Young For Documentary

DETROIT (WWJ) - A documentary is in the works about one of Detroit's most controversial mayors -- Coleman A. Young.

The public is invited to share personal stories about Young at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History from 1 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8.

Shahida Mausi, who served in Young's administration, is organizing the documentary.

"This is the 40th anniversary of his election, his historic election in the city of Detroit. We thought it appropriate that we collect stories and the facts about this man's tremendous legacy in this city," she said.

Excerpts from the "I Remember Coleman" events will be included in a documentary on Mayor Young. Proceeds from the documentary will benefit the Coleman A. Young Foundation.

Mausi said the events will reveal things not previously known about the former mayor. For example, Mausi said claims that Young was racist are unfounded.

"People don't know, for example, that under the Coleman Young administration, absolutely 50 percent of all of his appointees were white and half of them were female. That kind of diversity is not something that he gets credit for," she said.

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History is located on Warren Avenue in Detroit.

For more information, visit www.iremembercoleman.com or www.thewright.org.