Stokes’ election had great impact; it was an event that would go down in history books for being the first of its kind and for the many achievements of the Stokes administration.
"One major impact was that the administration encouraged people to get more involved with their governments within their wards. The citizens thought that if we could lead as the mayor, at least they could help keep the city running straight with their participation ." ~ Everett Chandler
The election of Carl Stokes was the turning point that allowed African Americans like Barack Obama to have to opportunity to rise to power.
"Perhaps President Barack Obama expresses it best. He was here [Cleveland] for the funeral services of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. And at her funeral service, while I was at the podium speaking, he was at that time a candidate. Just elected as the new Democratic nominee for president, he was on the stage with Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton and other prominent national figures. I started out my remarks talking about the fact of how proud I was to have him on the podium knowing that he was the first African American in our history to be nominated for the presidency of the United States. And I commented at the time, I think I was 82 or 83 years of age, I just turned 88, I commented that was my age and I said that this was something that I hoped would occur. I thought that while our nation was capable of electing a qualified black to be president of this country, I did not think I would see this in my life time. Well the audience started applauding and standing to applaud.
I turned around and those near the podium were standing up too. Barack Obama came over and we hugged one another. And he said to me “I’m here, because of you and your brother.” It will always be something I cherish, those words from him. Acknowledging that Carl was the one who broke the ice in our country, as he was the one who showed qualified black Americans were capable of holding the highest office in the land. I recall that when Carl was mayor, there was talk of him running as vice president of the United States. Now they couldn’t raise it to president but they talked seriously about him as a vice presidential running mate. When you look within the context of those who became mayors or held other public high office in America as a result of his election here, he was a pioneer in showing that this could be done. Then I think that is the sense in which history will have to put his election. It was a turning point for the nation in terms of political achievement." ~ Congressman Louis Stokes
"Both Obama and Stokes had to face attacks not based solely on politics but on the color of their skins." ~ Roldo Bartimole, 2010