The "Fist", as this sculpture by Robert Graham at the foot of Woodward Avenue has become known, is actually entitled "Monument to Joe Louis".   Behind the fist is the Coleman Young Municipal Center; behind the forearm is the post modern Hines building.

July 17, 2000

FOLLOW THE DETOUR SIGNS FOR MORE
DOWNTOWN MONTAGE

OR CLICK TOUR IN THE UPPER RIGHT
TO SKIP TO THE NEXT WEBISODE
NEIGHBORHOOD MONTAGE

I may be the only person in Detroit who likes The Fist.

Since its unveiling in 1985 The Fist has been controversial.  Complaints ranged from its presenting a violent message somehow evocative of black power to the prickly fact that a monument to Detroit's greatest athletic celebrity of Afro American heritage was created by an artist of non Afro American heritage.  The latter complaint led to the construction of an alternate full figured and tame Joe Louis in Cobo Hall. More....