Carl Stokes Biography | Political Leader, Mayor and Ambassador

Carl Burton Stokes

Born: June 21, 1927
Died: April 3, 1996
Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio

Major Notes:

Carl Stokes became the first African-American mayor of any major United States city.
When Stokes was only two years old, his father died and his mother was left to raise him alone.
Stokes, an older brother Louis, and his mother who worked as a cleaning lady lived in a housing project for the poor.
He dropped out of school in 1944 and worked in a foundry to help support the family.
At age 18, Carl Stokes decided to join the military and in 1946 received an honorable discharge.
Stokes, who had been a good student, then returned to complete his high school education.
He then followed an law education pattern which led him to pass his bar requirements in 1957.
Within a year, he had been appointed assistant prosecutor for his home town, the City of Cleveland.
At this time, he became interested in civil rights and politics.
In 1962, Carl Stokes became the first black Democrat to be elected to the Ohio Legislature, and represented his constituents until 1967.
During this time in 1985 he gained experience but lost in an election for mayor of Cleveland.
Two years later, he offered for the position again and won the election receiving national attention.
Cleveland was 63% white at the time, so the election of an African-American to a large US city was significant.
Having been Mayor for two terms, Carl Stokes left the political world and became the first black American TV news anchorman in New York City.
This gave him the opportunity to travel, meet and interview many United Nations delegates and officials.
In 1980, he moved back to Cleveland to take up a law again and by 1984 was elected as the Presiding Judge for the Cleveland Municipal Court.
President Clinton appointed Stokes to the position of US Ambassador to Seychelles in 1994.
Carl Burton Stokes served America well and received a number of awards including 12 honorary degrees.

For detailed research and more information, check out any of the following: The African American Registry Wikipedia Baltimore City Paper The History Channel Ohio History Central

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Major Notes:

Carl Stokes became the first African-American mayor of any major United States city.

When Stokes was only two years old, his father died and his mother was left to raise him alone.

Stokes, an older brother Louis, and his mother who worked as a cleaning lady lived in a housing project for the poor.

He dropped out of school in 1944 and worked in a foundry to help support the family.

At age 18, Carl Stokes decided to join the military and in 1946 received an honorable discharge.

Stokes, who had been a good student, then returned to complete his high school education.

He then followed an law education pattern which led him to pass his bar requirements in 1957.

Within a year, he had been appointed assistant prosecutor for his home town, the City of Cleveland.

At this time, he became interested in civil rights and politics.

In 1962, Carl Stokes became the first black Democrat to be elected to the Ohio Legislature, and represented his constituents until 1967.

During this time in 1985 he gained experience but lost in an election for mayor of Cleveland.

Two years later, he offered for the position again and won the election receiving national attention.

Cleveland was 63% white at the time, so the election of an African-American to a large US city was significant.

Having been Mayor for two terms, Carl Stokes left the political world and became the first black American TV news anchorman in New York City.

This gave him the opportunity to travel, meet and interview many United Nations delegates and officials.

In 1980, he moved back to Cleveland to take up a law again and by 1984 was elected as the Presiding Judge for the Cleveland Municipal Court.

President Clinton appointed Stokes to the position of US Ambassador to Seychelles in 1994.

Carl Burton Stokes served America well and received a number of awards including 12 honorary degrees.