By Sylvia Powers
One of Cleveland’s proudest chapters in Black history is the election of Carl Stokes, the first Black mayor of a major U.S. city. Stokes, a trailblazer, earned this historic distinction in 1967—right amid segregation. Today, his niece, Lori Stokes, is committed to keeping his legacy alive.
“Nobody paved the way for them. And I hope that by knowing more about Louis Stokes and Carl Stokes, young people realize that someone else struggled so they could have opportunities they might not have had before. But on the flip side, when you achieve greatness, you have an obligation to uplift and bring others along beside you,” said Lori Stokes, daughter of Louis Stokes.
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