About Carl Stokes:
Carl Burton Stokes was an American politician of the Democratic party who served as the 51st mayor of Cleveland, Ohio. Elected on November 7, 1967, and taking office on January 1, 1968, he was the first black mayor of a major U.S. city (although he was elected after Richard G. Hatcher). Fellow Ohioan Robert C. Henry was the first black mayor of any U.S. city (Springfield, elected 1966).