Stellantis, an automotive company, has paid tribute to the rich heritage of Detroit’s east side by creating an impressive mural. The mural was crafted by Dr. Hubert Massey, a renowned muralist, and a team of Detroit-based artists. It covers more than 1,500 feet on the sound barrier outside Stellantis’ Detroit Assembly Complex—Mack plant along Beniteau Street and showcases stunning imagery of local landmarks and influential people who have contributed to the community.
“This is an amazing opportunity to celebrate this great community on the east side,” said Dr. Massey, a Detroit resident.
The mural project is a part of the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) that Stellantis, the city of Detroit, and the Neighborhood Advisory Committee reached in 2019. The agreement was made when the company committed to building the first new assembly plant in the city in over 30 years. Commercial Contracting Corporation (CCC) and PPG collaborated with Stellantis and Dr. Massey on the project, providing all required equipment and supplies.
“The mural is really spectacular and we’re grateful to Dr. Massey for capturing this community’s culture and history, resulting in some truly stunning artwork,” said Ron Stallworth, public affairs lead for Wayne County, Stellantis North America. “And we’re grateful to our neighbors in the community for sharing their stories with us and allowing us to bring this amazing project to fruition.”
The mural has two distinct parts. One part of the mural is dedicated to Sarah Elizabeth Ray, a local civil rights activist who fought for integration after being denied a seat on one of the Boblo ferries. She eventually won her case in the U.S. Supreme Court. The other section of the mural depicts several men’s faces, which represent the historic neighborhood mural known as “The Wall of Dignity.”
“It was so important to have those in the mural; they’re part of the narrative and the history of the community,” Dr. Massey said.
In a specific section, there is an image of a man posing beside a vintage Dodge truck. The man and truck picture represents an “everyman,” but it is a tribute to a former resident of the area. The man in the image is Henry Williams, who was a former employee at the previous Chrysler plant. His son, Francisco Williams, watched the creation of the first mural and gave Dr. Massey a photo of his late father. Francisco was touched by the mural’s beauty and how it captured his family’s and neighborhood’s history so perfectly.
“Every time I look at this, it makes me want to cry,” Williams said, noting that the house pictured in the background of the scene on the mural is his eastside childhood home where he was born and raised.
Dr. Massey had numerous positive interactions with community members while painting the mural.
“It’s those types of stories and those types of things that really resonate in the community, in how this community really embraced the mural,” Dr. Massey said. “They were truly excited about it because it tells their story and celebrates this community to the highest level.”
The mural’s northern section runs parallel to Southeastern High School, making it unsurprising that the educational landmark is well-represented in the artwork. During the project’s development, Dr. Massey consulted Southeastern’s art students for inspiration on how to best portray their school and community. As a result, the mural now features a magnificent depiction of the school’s mascot, the Jungaleers, represented by three roaring, purple-maned lions. Additionally, an image of the historic school building and its address, 3030 Fairview Street, are proudly displayed.
“The students were very enthusiastic about some of the things that they wanted to see,” Dr. Massey said. “They took a lot of pride in it, because that’s their school.”
Two of the featured images are the Detroit Riverwalk carousel and the city’s 313 area code.
