In the fall of 2013, former U.S. Congressman Louis Stokes was appointed to the role of President’s Ambassador to 91ֿ for 2013-2014 by then 91ֿ President, Lester A Lefton.
Stokes was the fourth President’s Ambassador. The position was a one-year, part-time appointment created in 2010 as an opportunity to bring distinguished minority professionals to 91ֿ to help the university gain insight and knowledge from the professional experience of these diverse business and community leaders and share that knowledge with students, faculty, and staff.
Stokes had many roles in a career that spanned more than 60 years, as a U.S Congressman, the first black congressman elected in Ohio, and as a distinguished lawyer and civil rights leader. He also was a close friend and confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The ‘Lost’ Interview
In late October 2013, Stokes was interviewed for 91ֿ Magazine during a campus visit. He was asked about his appointment as 91ֿ’s President’s Ambassador, his mission in that role, student activism on campus and his vision of changing attitudes of race in America.
Shortly after the interview, a family health crisis prevented him from fulfilling his duties as President’s Ambassador for 91ֿ. It was decided that the publication of the interview would be delayed. Ultimately, Stokes’ family responsibilities did not allow him to continue in this role. He returned to 91ֿ once, in September 2014, to speak to a sociology class about “stop-and-frisk” laws. Stokes died in August 2015.
The following content is never-before-published material from that interview.
On working with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In the interview for 91ֿ Magazine, Stokes was asked what it was like to work side-by-side, as a friend, with a man who many people know only as a larger-than-life historical figure.
“Dr. King WAS larger-than-life,” Stokes said. “Only one Dr. Martin Luther King comes along in a lifetime.”
“His leadership of the civil rights movement was brilliant leadership. In order to overcome the degradation of civil rights of the segregated conditions in America, he chose to turn to non-violence … because we could not be the same as the enemy and be able to garner the support that was needed to sustain the civil rights movement. And so, his non-violent approach to leading the civil rights movement was probably one of the smartest tactical moves ever made.”
Stokes on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “… through his leadership, an entire nation was changed. The conditions related to minorities were changed during our lifetimes.”
“But more than that, it was his scholarship, his eloquence and his determination to give the kind of leadership that was needed at that time to change a nation. When you look back and realize that, through his leadership, an entire nation was changed. The conditions related to minorities were changed during our lifetimes.”
One of the first events Stokes was scheduled to attend in his capacity as President’s Ambassador was the university’s 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. birthday observation on the Kent Campus. He said he was greatly honored that he was asked to be the keynote speaker. Stokes had planned to discuss the conditions in the United States during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, what Dr. King’s leadership meant to the country at that time, and the state of the nation today and where it may be headed in the future.
“In other words,” Stokes said, “I think I will try to capture Dr. King’s dream: Has his dream been realized? And offer my opinion with reference to the state of race relations in America today.”
Unfortunately, because of a family health matter, he was unable to deliver the keynote address.
Today’s Students As Tomorrow’s Leaders
As President’s Ambassador, Stokes saw an opportunity to have dialogue with students representing a variety of racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds, to find out what their concerns are about the country. He had hoped to draw from his experience as a participant in the civil rights moment, a U.S. congressman and a lawyer, to contribute to that dialogue and provide an educational experience for students.
Stokes on students: “In a few years, this will be their country and they will be the leaders in this country. The education they are receiving today needs tot be directed towards their leadership in the future …”
Stokes particularly wanted to impress the importance of student involvement in activities that promote the development of leadership skills. “Young people need to become much more involved,” said Stokes. “In a few years, this will be their country and they will be the leaders in this country. The education they are receiving today needs to be directed towards their leadership in the future and involvement is key to leadership. This is where you learn to be a leader and this is where you learn from leaders.”
Regarding the civil rights challenges facing today’s students, Stokes again pointed to the leadership role students have in shaping the future.
“As we look across college campuses in America today, we still find examples of racism in our society,” said Stokes. “Young people have come a long way in helping eradicate every last vestige of race hatred and racism in our society. But it still exists.
“As a young person,” said Stokes, “you are going to inherit this nation. We recognize that by 2040, America will be a minority majority nation. It’s going to be an important time particularly for ALL races to try and work together and to socialize together and demonstrate the capacity of respecting and appreciating of diversity in a nation of that sort.”
Looking to the Future
In 2013, at age 88, after a distinguished career of more than 60 years of service, Stokes had been a witness to monumental historic events. He was asked what historic events he looked forward to seeing in the future.
“Great question,” said Stokes. “I might speculate that a historic future event would be to see a female president of the United States.” (Just three years later, Hilary Clinton would be the democratic candidate for U.S. President.)
“The other event that I would hope to see in the future is some type of real-time evidence of the fact that racism has been eradicated and is no longer a part of America’s environment.”
Louis Stokes with his interviewer, Phil B. Soencksen, multimedia storyteller, University Communications and Marketing.
All photos by Bob Christy, senior photography coordinator, University Communications and Marketing.