Louis Stokes
Louis Stokes
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Louis Stokes was born on August 23, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio. He is commonly referred to as Lou Stokes.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: August 23, 1925
Died: August 19, 2015
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Louis Stokes was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 21st congressional district.
Early Life and Background
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Stokes grew up in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood, where he was raised by his parents, James Henry Stokes and Eliza Mae (Harris) Stokes. His father owned a dry cleaning business, which Louis later took over after his mother passed away when he was just 13 years old.
Stokes attended East High School in Cleveland before enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War II. After serving overseas for two years, he returned to Cleveland and graduated from Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University) with a degree in business administration.
Major Accomplishments
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Pioneering African American Politician: Stokes was one of the first African Americans elected to Congress from Ohio.
Chairman of the House Select Committee on Assassinations: He led an investigation into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
* Advocate for Civil Rights and Social Justice: Stokes championed legislation to address police brutality, voting rights, and other social justice issues.
Notable Works or Actions
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Stokes was a member of several notable committees during his tenure in Congress, including the House Judiciary Committee and the House Select Committee on Assassinations. He also served as Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (1971-1972) and co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.
In addition to his work in Congress, Stokes played a key role in the development of several Cleveland-based organizations, including the Cleveland Community Development Corp. and the Glenville Youth Center.
Impact and Legacy
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Stokes's impact on American politics is significant, as he helped pave the way for future generations of African American politicians. His commitment to social justice and civil rights has inspired countless individuals and organizations.
During his time in Congress, Stokes worked closely with other notable figures, including President Jimmy Carter, Senator Ted Kennedy, and Representative Barbara Jordan. His legacy continues to be celebrated through various awards and tributes, including the Louis Stokes Federal Justice Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Stokes's commitment to social justice and his unwavering dedication to public service have made him a widely respected figure in American politics. His quotes on issues ranging from civil rights to economic development continue to inspire individuals today.
As a trailblazer for African American politicians, Stokes's legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and public service. His contributions to Congress and his community will be remembered for generations to come.
Quotes by Louis Stokes
Well that’s true, and what is actually happening now is that there are accusations that those records contain conspiratorial information that has been concealed from the American people and that is a dangerous situation that just cannot be tolerated.
Also, with information having just come out at the time about J. Edgar Hoover’s electronic surveillance of Dr. King, it gave greater weight to the statements of those persons who were alleging involvement of the FBI.
And the evidence clearly showed that Ray was in the boarding house and the bathroom from which the shots that killed Dr. King were fired.
There are, in the King case in particular, e names of confidential informants, persons to whom we promised confidentiality in return for their testimony. We have put their testimony in the public domain, but feel that their names should continue to be anonymous.
The purpose of the investigation was to bring out all relevant facts and to keep innocent people from being harmed by unsubstantiated reports.
We held 36 days of evidentiary hearings on national television and made recommendations to the House for legislative action in the two assassinations.
Nowhere, absolutely nowhere, has there ever been a hint, not even a whisper, that a Black person was involved in the assassination of the president. But that's the kind of thing you have in this movie.
Firstly, we have personnel records of persons we hired, persons we fired, reasons we fired them and so forth. These records have nothing to do with the assassination of the president and, therefore, ought to remain in the files.
There is one instance that we cite in the report where in one of the conversations a member of organized crime is talking to another member of organized crime and he suggests that Attorney General Kennedy should be murdered.