Georgina Hickey

My current historical research project explores Detroit in the decades following the 1967 rebellion by tracing the public career of Maryann Mahaffey, a middle-class white woman, who served on Detroit’s city council for 32 years. While the city struggled with crumbling infrastructure, a faltering economy, unemployment, crime, decreased state support, and the lingering impact of institutionalized racism, Mahaffey and the networks of progressive and leftist activists she cultivated worked to enact a vision of a just and vibrant city that centered the needs and desires of its people. This project uncovers those visions and challenges traditional narratives of hopelessness that surround post-industrial Detroit. It also suggests a model of leadership built around social justice and authentic allyship.