Paying Tribute to Trailblazers: Carl B. Stokes
Carl B. Stokes was a Cleveland native, born on June 21st, 1927. His father, Charles Stokes was a laundry worker who died when Carl was only two years old, leaving his mother with two young children to care for. His mother, Louise Stokes secured domestic work to support her family and when Carl was 11 they moved to Outhwaite Homes, one of the first federally funded housing projects in the country under the Public Works Administration.
Carl attended East Technical High School, the school was 90% white and the staff expected very little of the Black students. His counselor even discouraged him from taking the mechanical course he was interested in and instead advised him to pursue foundry, it wasn’t long after that he dropped out of school. He worked at a foundry and aircraft company until he turned 18 and joined the Army. He received an honorable discharged in 1946 and left with the rank of corporal. Carl returned to Cleveland to receive his diploma the following year. Using the benefits of the G.I. bill, he decided to follow his brother Louis into the field of law and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. He then went on to earn his LLB degree from night classes at Cleveland Marshall Law School while working as a probation officer during the day. For the next four years, he pursued his political career by serving as an assistant city prosecutor in Cleveland and partner in the law firm Stokes, Stokes, Character, and Terry.
Parade in front of Terminal Tower, July 24, 1967
In 1962 Carl was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, he was the first African American Democratic Party member ever elected to the Ohio Legislature. His election signified the growing acceptance of African Americans in politics. He remained in the House until 1967 when he was elected 51st mayor of Cleveland. He defeated Seth Taft, grandson of former U.S. President William Howard Taft. Carl took office on January 1, 1968, he was the first African American to be elected mayor of a major U.S. city. His victory came from 20 percent of the white vote and almost total support from the black community. At this time African Americans made up 37% of Cleveland’s population. Carl opened up city positions to African Americans and women during his mayoral reign. He also introduced many urban revitalization programs, enforcing housing codes, demolishing slums, and building 5,500 public housing units.
The Stokes Brothers
In the summer of 1968, The Glenville Tragedy struck, claiming the lives of at least ten people. Civil unrest broke out on July 23rd between Black Nationalists and Cleveland Police resulting in street battles, looting, and arson. Stokes made the controversial decision to have the national guard barrier off the riot-torn area and did not allow white police officers in, only black law enforcement and community leaders. In the end, his strategy worked as there were no further deaths or major injuries, however, this tactic did not sit well with everyone and he faced major backlash.
In a close election for his second term against Republican Ralph Perk, Carl preserved by fewer than four thousand votes. Carl choose not to serve a third term and instead gave public lectures across America and later became the first African-American television news anchor in New York City.
In 1980 he returned to Cleveland, served as general legal counsel for the United Auto Workers union, and served as a municipal judge from 1983 until 1984. He was awarded 12 honorary degrees, civic awards, and represented the United States on trips abroad at the request of the White House. In 1970, the National League of Cities voted him its first black president-elect.
Carl B. Stokes is one of the few American politicians whose career spanned all three branches of state government - legislative, executive, and judicial. He laid the groundwork for other African Americans to take office in Cleveland, including Michael White, Frank Jackson, and now Mayor Justin Bibb. “In many ways, my position as mayor of this great city would not be possible without Carl Stokes laying that foundation," Bibb said. A Carl B. Stokes Ohio Historical Marker is in front of Cleveland City Hall. His son, Cordell Stokes, also spoke about his father and his uncle Congressman Louis Stokes, at the unveiling of the sign “Two boys growing up in the projects here in Cleveland and who just took the steps to do extraordinary things.”
Carl came from poverty and rose to the highest seat in city government. He is an inspiration to all proving that your past does not define you and there does not need to be a path paved for you to make one.