Julia Handelsman

Joe Louis Fist; the Fight Over Privatization

Detroit has been through many ups and downs. It is known as a rough and tough city; it
never stops fighting no matter the challenge. However, with so many issues in Detroit, some say
that these challenges may take a tremendous amount of time and effort to be resolved. One major
issue in Detroit that needs a resolution is privatization. Privatization is when the government
hands over its investments, including housing and public art, to private companies to do what
they please. This takes away the opinions of the public, the people living in the city, and only
takes in the voice of the investors, the private. A type of privatization includes businesses
investing in a portion of a city, be it buildings or art. This is called corporate control. This can
become very dangerous to the public; especially when those businesses agendas are not
favorable to citizens. A key moment in the controversy of corporate control can be seen in
Detroit when the Joe Louis Fist was created by Sports illustrated.
The controversy of privatization in Detroit can be led back to the Cobo vs. Edwards
election. Edwards ran as a Democrat trying to help everyone in need of housing. This included
the underrepresented black population. Cobo, who won the race, ran as the Republican and
believed Detroit needed privatized housing. He wanted to sell the slums to developers for private
projects. Although this would be advantageous to white homeowners, it would harm the black
population immensely. This is a major problem of privatization; it only focuses on certain
demographics, while completely ignoring people not important to the idea/goal. In this case by
privatizing houses, this would cause even more damage to the already mistreated black
population. Cobos win was really a loss to the city of Detroit. Under Cobos rule slums were
destroyed leaving many blacks homeless. In this case privatization was harmful because it hurt
many black citizens. Thus Cobo began Detroits infamous history of privatization.1
As controversy over privatization continued, the Joe Louis fist was created at a time of mass
production of privatization. The 1980s were a time of strong capitalism in the United States.
This time was also coined as a neo-liberal time, similar to a laissez-faire belief, it valued a
mostly free market in order to create economic success. These factors in the 1980s created a
catalyst for privatization. People who disagree with privatization, say its services produce
inferior program quality, diffusion of responsibility for failed projects, and hidden costs.2 This
ended up occurring in Detroit. As Detroit sold its land privately, only 9.6% of the sold land
became used for new projects, compared to Clevelands 52%. This begins to emphasize Detroits
inability to allocate private funds properly. At the same time Detroit was fumbling money around
from these investments, and lots of this money ended up being stolen by corrupt leaders. This
includes money from the HOME program which donated $80.5 million, but Detroit only spent
$26 million of it.3 Detroits continuous failure to allocate private funds from companies whose
focus is non-profit, makes it even more improbable that Detroit can handle corporate funds,
1 Martelle
2 Jurik

because they usually have ulterior motives. These corporate funds in the 1980s include Sports
Illustrated donation for the fist. Sports Illustrated said they donated the fist out of altruism4,
however they proudly show their name on its plaque5, which is a sign of promotion for their
company. Whether it be the corruption of the businesses or the politicians, Detroit is not capable
of handling most privatized funds, including the Joe Louis fist.
The Joe Louis fist was emblematic in the dispute of privatization because of the controversy it
brought. Sports illustrated sponsored the Joe Louis project in the late 1980s. The public had no
voice or opinion in the creation of this.6 The piece was also created in a popular area of Detroit
right off Woodward and Jefferson; it was a busy area, with cars rushing by and people
sightseeing.7 This piece was very controversial because it was in such a public area, but did not
actually involve the public. Some people had positive views of the fist. One viewer who grew up
in Black Bottom with Louis fought back tears calling it a marvelous work of art and Joe
Louiss son also agreed.8 Although there were some positive opinions, many people disliked the
statue. Joe Louiss widow said that it could be anybodys arm.9 And during the opening one of
the first viewers said, Heck, no that doesnt represent himI know him standing up and
fighting, not just as some big fist.10 The fist even looks like the arm was ripped off a whole
body, making it feel incomplete11. Some even believed it was a symbol of black power.12 This stir
of opinions is what made the fist so important in the battle of privatization. Like any battle some
agree with the stance, but many want change. In this case the Joe Louis Fist was so significant,
change did occur. The city of Detroit commissioned to make a second statue of Louis in the
Cobo center.13 This was a chance to give the public an opinion in its citys art, unlike Sports
Illustrated privatized piece. All this controversy over the fist was what made this piece so
3 Gallagher
4 Dickinson
5 Field note
6 Dickinson
7 Field notes
8 Eldridge
9 Dickinson
10 Eldridge
11 Field notes
12 Dickinson

important in the battle between privatization and public control. The fist was a figurehead in
showing how privatization is problematic in Detroit.
In conclusion Joe Louis is a significant representation of how Detroits use of privatization has
failed. Although privatization has proven to be an issue Detroit continues to practice
privatization. Its newest piece is the Little Caesar Arena donated by Little Caesars Pizza
company. However, with so many problems with privatization already arising, there is no safe
bet that this stadium will change the practice of privatization. The citizens of Detroit must decide
if they want to keep gambling with privatization, or make some changes.

November 1, 2016, Detroit Michigan

13 Sculptor takes critics jabs

Works Cited
Dickinson, Greg, Blair, Carole, and Ott, Brian L., eds. Albma Rhetoric Cult & Soc Crit : Places
of Public Memory : The Rhetoric of Museums and Memorials. Tuscaloosa, US:
University Alabama Press, 2010. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 10 November 2016.
Eldridge, Earle. "Cheers, Jeers Greet Unveiling Sculpture." Detroit News 17 Oct. 1986: n. pag.
Print.
Gallagher, John. Reimagining Detroit. Detroit, US: Wayne State University Press, 2010.
ProQuest ebrary. Web. 10 November 2016.
Handelsman J.B. (2016). [Field notes collected during on-site research in Detroit, Michigan].
Unpublished raw data.
JURIK, NANCY C. Imagining Justice: Challenging The Privatization of Public Life. Social
Problems, vol. 51, no. 1, 2004, pp. 115. www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/sp.2004.51.1.1.
Martelle, Scott. Detroit: A Biography. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review, 2012. Print.
"Sculptor Takes Critics Jabs' over Louis Fist." Detroit Free Press n.d.: n. pag. Print.