Title
To acknowledge and celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the election of Carl B. Stokes as the first Black Mayor of a major American city.
Body
WHEREAS, 40 years ago, on November 7, 1967, Carl B. Stokes, a grandson of a slave, was elected to lead the city of Cleveland, Ohio, and thereby, becoming the first Black Mayor of a major American city; and
WHEREAS, Carl B. Stokes' historic election ushered in the next phase of the civil rights movement by linking it with Black political electoral activism, and leading the entry of the nation's Black community into the political mainstream; and
WHEREAS, 40 years ago, at a time of great frustration and struggle, America's Black citizens looked to the election of Carl B. Stokes as a sign of hope and possibility, believing that political power welded by one of their own would improve their lives; and
WHEREAS, on November 7, 1967, in the city of Cleveland, Ohio the question of whether a Black person could ever be elected to lead a major American city was unequivocally affirmed, and thereby, opening the doors to other Black Mayors that followed throughout the nation, including here in Ohio, in the cities of Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That the Columbus City Council does hereby acknowledge and celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the election of Carl B. Stokes as the first Black Mayor of a major American city.
And be it further resolved that Columbus City Council firmly expresses its eternal appreciation of the courage and commitment of Carl B. Stokes, who overcame great odds and was elected in 1967, not only changing his city, but transforming our nation.