Mel Ravitz

Melvin Ravitz was an American professor, progressive politician, sociologist, and community advocate who served in various positions in the Detroit city government during the second half of the twentieth century. He worked to include citizen voices in the debate over urban renewal, both from the perspective of an academic and a civil servant.

Academic career As a professor at Wayne State University, Ravitz assisted in the formation of the university's Department of Urban Planning. He served as a professor at Wayne State from 1949 to 1987, focusing his efforts on urban sociology and teaching courses that required students to go out in communities to see racial, ethnic and industrial change first-hand. Ravitz was a prolific writer and speaker, contributing his analysis on urban planning issues to numerous journals and conferences.

Politics During his time in city government, Ravitz often spoke against the dangers of suburbanization, racism, and the social impact of urban planning decisions in Southeast Michigan. He was often called a friend to the African-American community in Detroit, based on his effort to bring community organizations and citizen groups to the table along with powerful development interests.

Ravitz ran for mayor in Detroit in 1973, and was supported in his run by the UAW. He placed an unsuccessful third in the primary election.

After a short break, Ravitz returned to the city council and worked closely with Young, though they often disagreed. While Ravitz supported smaller developments across the city, Young favored large-scale projects downtown and along the riverfront.

Archival collection Ravitz's personal papers are housed at the Walter P. Reuther Library. These materials reflect his interests in community organizing and neighborhood revitalization, and serve to document the history of Detroit politics and the social and economic changes that the city faced during the twentieth century. Documents range in creation date from 1939 to 2005.