Recently, my son's social studies project brought the whole
family to Dearborn
City Hall
Among other things, the sign notes that, “Hubbard was an
effective administrator who paid attention to small details and public opinion.
He made Dearborn known for punctual trash collection.” If you didn’t already
know that Hubbard’s most significant legacy was racism, you might miss the
hidden meaning behind the words: “paid attention to…public opinion,” “known for
punctual trash collection.” He did care about the opinion of his white
constituents who kept him in office for 30 years. As for trash, it turns out,
the phrase “Keep Dearborn Clean” started under Hubbard, but was mostly
understood to mean “Keep Dearborn White” (Good).
Of course, the sign makes no direct statement on Hubbard’s
race record, not even a footnote. It would be a copout to say such signs are
not intended to be controversial: If you are going to put a sign in front of
city hall memorializing a man best known for his racist policies and then make
no mention of this part of his legacy, then you are inviting controversy.
Adding insult to injury is the statue of Hubbard which also stands right
outside city hall.
Obviously, I’m not writing about something new here. These
monuments have received press attention in the past. In James W. Loewen’s Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites
Get Wrong, the Hubbard statue is listed as one of the top 20 monuments that
should be “toppled” ("Down with..."). Of course, Hubbard's sign and statue are not
unique in that they pay tribute to a person who may have done great things but
whose social or ethical conscience was at best questionable and at worst
detrimental to society. Henry Ford, as well as many other historical figures in
our history, fit the same bill.
Nevertheless, an opportunity is approaching to make some
kind of change to the Hubbard tributes. Dearborn City Hall is relocating. There
is talk of the grounds in front becoming a city park. One of the names being
considered is Hubbard
Park new
city hall or to the center of the existing park. Why
is the question not about removing the statue? Shouldn't city
leaders want to stop reaffirming Hubbard's one-sided legacy--whether or not the
family approves? If removing the statue is too costly an option, then add a new
placard that speaks honestly about his legacy. Definitely do not move it to the
new city hall
and definitely do not make it the centerpiece for a new park.
In the end, my son opted to include the photo in his
project. That's fine. History should not be buried, but I made sure he knew that
Hubbard, despite his accomplishments, was a man who did not like people who
were different from himself. That part of his legacy is far more important than
trash collection.
Sources:
Carreras, Jessica. “City Hall Move Could Result in
Relocation of Hubbard Statue, War Memorial.” Dearborn
“Detroit :
The History and Future of the Motor
City
"Down with Orville Hubbard." MetroTimes. Detroit Metro Times. 19 Jan. 2000. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. http://www2.metrotimes.com/news/story.asp?id=12567
"Down with Orville Hubbard." MetroTimes. Detroit Metro Times. 19 Jan. 2000. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. http://www2.metrotimes.com/news/story.asp?id=12567
Good, David L. “Orville Hubbard: The Ghost Who Still Haunts Dearborn .” Detroit
Hood, Anne B. “Statue of Orville Hubbard at City Hall.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 17
Jan. 2008. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orville_Hubbard.jpg
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