An Equal Opportunity Lie

The making of a segregated city.

In 1967, Flint Mayor Floyd McCree, resigned his appointed position, stating, “I refuse to live an equal opportunity lie.” He did so in protest of the city commission’s defeat of an open housing ordinance. For despite his status as the first African American mayor of a large American city, McCree inhabited what had become one of the most racially segregated cities in America. Understanding Flint’s history means understanding how its built environment and communities developed along highly racialized lines.

Using objects and images from Sloan Museum’s collection, this exhibition examines the housing segregation that characterized Flint’s residential development, as well as efforts to wrest the city free from discriminatory housing practices.

Monday-Saturday 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Sunday 12:00-5:00 pm