By Benicia Ciara, TMDN
Nearly 100 years after Dr. Ossian Sweet made national headlines for defending his home against a white mob, the City of Detroit has officially opened the Dr. Ossian Sweet Memorial Park on the city’s east side.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together city leaders, community members, and descendants of Dr. Sweet, including Jackie Spot—Dr. Ossian’s niece—and Dan Baxter, the current homeowner.
“The Ossian Sweet House and the grounds around it represent one of the most important pieces of Black history in this country, and now this beautiful new plaza will allow future generations understand and appreciate the profound impact Dr. Sweet and his family made,” said Mayor Duggan.
In 1925, Dr. Sweet, an African American physician, purchased a home at 2905 Garland Street in an all-white neighborhood—a bold act during a time of rigid segregation. Within two days, a White mob surrounded the house, threatening violence. They carried out said threats by throwing rocks at the home, creating new “Neighborhood Improvement Associations,” and terrorizing this Black family. After night one of the house being surrounded, shots were fired from inside the home in an act of defense, leaving one man outside dead. Dr. Sweet, his wife Gladys, and 10 others were arrested and charged with murder.
Civil rights attorney Clarence Darrow defended the group, trialblazing one of the most important trials in U.S. history. The case ended in acquittals and became a defining moment in the fight against housing discrimination.
The new memorial park, developed by Detroit’s General Services Department, features a timeline of the events, trees planted in honor, engraved quotations, and a reflection plaza. The design encourages visitors to learn about the Sweet family’s courage and its lasting impact on housing rights in America.
For Spot, seeing her uncle’s story permanently honored is deeply moving. The park now stands not only as a place of remembrance but as a public classroom, ensuring future generations understand the sacrifices made in the pursuit of justice.
