The enduring legacy of Cleveland’s first black mayor --- and the first black mayor of any major U.S. city -- was remembered today at Cleveland State University. ideastream’s Brian Bull reports:
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Reflections on Carl Stokes and his mayoral term was the opening panel in an event commemorating half a century of African-American mayors.
Among the panelists was David Stradling, co-author of “Where the River Burned: Carl Stokes and the Struggle to Save Cleveland”.
Stradling talked about the turbulence Stokes encountered, when he took office in 1967. Civil rights, police brutality, and economic disparity were just a few issues he faced….not to mention racism from a number of directions.
But Stradling said Cleveland’s mayor used his race and position to help advance a progressive agenda on Capitol Hill.
“The Democrats who ran committees loved to hear from Carl Stokes,” began Stradling. “because he was very articulate about the issues that they wanted to pass important legislation about.
"So what better to do than to bring a man who grew up in poverty, grew up in public housing, to come and speak to a panel about the importance of funding public housing? Who also happens to a mayor of a major American city? It had never happened before.”
Stradling says Stokes’ advocacy also helped progress national anti-poverty reforms, before support waned in the 1970s.
The focus of the CSU forum was half a century of black leadership. After the first panel discussion wrapped up, another panel – made up of current African-American mayors -- gathered to share the challenges they respectively face in each of their cities.
When Carl Stokes became the first black mayor of a major U.S. city in 1967, racial and economic disparity were driving forces behind the Civil Rights movement and initiatives like the War on Poverty.
50 years later, many of the same concerns linger. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson told an audience of roughly 200 that he has stayed persistent on two key issues.
“The two main things I look at is education,” said Jackson. “And whether or not there is quality education, not just ‘touching the base’ education. And the other is how do we have a better opportunity for everyone to share in the quality of life and the prosperity that is created?”
Jackson -- who’s a Democrat -- said finding common ground with Republican leaders has helped him to address these concerns.
Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson of Gary, Indiana, agreed. She said another challenge is persuading residents that change is happening, and for the better.
“Consistently, people still talk in a negative manner about Gary even though they see the progress that is being made,” said Freeman-Wilson. “And so they say, ‘Yes, I see this, yes, I see certain aspects of things that are improving in the city’…but they’re still waiting for the other foot to drop.”
Other challenges the mayors discussed include police-community relations, maintaining infrastructure, and ensuring proper health care for residents.