Sharon McPhail was not born in Detroit, yet when she arrived in the 1970s, the city claimed her as one of its own just the same.

With a law degree from Northeastern, she chose Detroit because it was a city of struggle and possibility – one where her experience as a lawyer could go a long way in fighting injustice.

Already economically depressed, it was a time when the Motor City saw its people fighting back, and McPhail was a natural fit – a civil rights attorney who was not afraid to represent Detroiters denied jobs, housing, or equality.

Her reputation grew quickly: smart, sharp, and unyielding.

The second she stepped into a courtroom, everyone knew she meant business.

McPhail became Detroit City Councilor in 1993, where she stood out like a sore thumb.

That said, council politics were loud and combative, and McPhail thrived in that environment.

She asked hard questions, pressed mayors and department heads who were not doing neighborhood work, and she never minded making enemies.

She also rarely bothered being polite when she thought the truth was being dodged.

Her presence shocked the system, especially since it was mainly dominated by men.

Some colleagues called her abrasive, but her supporters saw something different: someone who said what needed to be said – out loud and in public.

That said, McPhail was not content with merely sitting at the council table.

She wanted a job where she could foster more change, and in 1993, 2001, and 2005 she ran for mayor with that in mind, putting neighborhood issues at the center of her platform.

McPhail spoke about crime, corruption, jobs, and the simple dignity of good city services.

Unfortunately, she never won, but her campaigns mattered nonetheless, especially given the fact that she forced conversations that could have easily been ignored, always keeping pressure on Detroit’s political establishment.

For many voters, she became a champion – a voice echoing their frustrations within the halls of power.

As a politician, McPhail never lost her touch.

There is usually some kind of controversy in Detroit politics, and she often found herself caught up in the middle of it.

She cut up contracts, challenged budgets, and kept her colleagues honest, an edge that made her something of a lightning rod – one that often went up against fellow council members, mayors, and sometimes even her own supporters.

It was that willingness to fight that made her hard to ignore, and whether people admired or opposed her, they paid attention all the same.

Where power is often traded behind closed doors, McPhail brought issues onto the main stage and directly into the spotlight.

Sharon McPhail never left Detroit until she left public office.

Though she never became mayor, she helped define what a woman could be in the political arena.

She was both a lawyer and a political force, demanding accountability and making people uncomfortable if that was what the truth demanded.

Her ambition was high, her voice unapologetic, and she created plenty of space for others to follow in her footsteps.

Her story is one of grit, conflict, and persistence.

For Detroit, she will be forever remembered not for her campaigns or her council votes, but for her refusal to ever back down.

In short: Sharon McPhail was a fighter – and in a city that has always respected fighters – that may be her greatest legacy of all.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: August 22, 2025