Rediscovered Recording Sheds Light On First Black Mayor Of Major U.S. City

05:02

November 07, 2017

David C. Barnett, WCPN ideastream

Carl B. Stokes makes a victory statement at his campaign headquarters in Cleveland, Oct. 3, 1967, after almost complete returns indicated he had won the Democratic nomination for mayor of Cleveland by a margin of more than 12,000 over the incumbent mayor, Ralph S. Locher. Stokes' wife, Shirley, is on the left. (AP Photo)

This article is more than 5 years old.

Clevelanders are choosing the next mayor of their city Tuesday. The fact that both candidates are African American isn't surprising. But it was a different story 50 years ago, when Carl Stokes became the first black man to be elected mayor of a major American city.

That achievement was celebrated in a little-known musical album that was recently rediscovered. David C. Barnett (@DCBstream) from WCPN ideastream takes us back to the recording studio.

This segment aired on November 7, 2017.

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