The immediate aftermath following Carl Stokes’ election was a delicate situation. The black community and white liberals were ecstatic to finally have someone with their needs in mind in a powerful position. However, the conservative white community was always pulling the race card, accusing Stokes of acting biased and violently lashing out at the same people he was attempting to aid.
"Cleveland had the largest urban-renewal program in the nation and had demonstrated the least progress. Beginning under Mayor Celebrezze, some six thousand acres of land were committed to renewal and federal funds poured in to strip them down. That was accomplished with dispatch, rendering thousands of people homeless and putting hundreds of small businesses out of business."
~ Carl Stokes, 1973
~ Carl Stokes, 1973
"The news media were having a field day. The reporters loved us, since things were happening so fast that we were feeding them stories every day. But it took its toll. We had so much to learn, we had to find people to take the key jobs, and we had to do it right. Everything had to be right because everything we did was in the limelight." ~Carl Stokes, 1973
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"When people suddenly saw this surge of black voters…that had never been seen previously, the political field became even then. They [Dr. Martin Luther King and Stokes] were able to garner voters throughout America to support, not only African American candidates, but candidates that represented black interests. " ~ Clarence Bozeman
"The black community was elated. They were walking down Euclid Avenue raising flags... The point being there that there was so much elation and self-pride, the black community could walk around with the idea of ‘look at what we have done. We have overcome.’ ...This was the same idea for black mayoral races in other communities. It had kind of blooming effect. It sparked enthusiasm that was once dormant in the black community." ~ Clarence Bozeman