February 11, 2024

Hi and welcome to the OneBeautifulPlanet.org newsletter #34! This message goes to my 177 subscribers, with a big Thank you for signing up. If you have just subscribed, feel free to check out the weekly Newsletter archive. I wrote the first issue in June 2023, and an overview of the weekly effort at the 100th subscriber milestone.

Carl Stokes

I start every newsletter with a person, animal, or plant that inspired or intrigued me. It is a moment of reflection and gratitude, meant to find lessons and nurture curiosity. Last week I featured the oyster, while previous weeks included animals like the axolotl, the albatross, and luminaries such as Buckminster Fuller and Sylvia Earle.

I have had a couple of insightful conversations this week about water and our waterways. More specifically, I became more familiar with the history of the US Clean Water Act, and the contribution that a particular individual had toward enacting this fundamental piece of environmental legislation: Carl Stokes. He was the major of Cleveland from 1967 to 1971, and the first African American mayor of a major American city.

Carl Burton Stokes was born on June 21, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Charles and Louise Stokes. Growing up in the Outhwaite Homes public housing project, Stokes experienced firsthand the challenges faced by many African Americans in the mid-20th century. He attended public schools in Cleveland, and joined the US Army after dropping out of high school. Later on however, he returned home to finish his education and earned a scholarship to attend Case Western Reserve University. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1954 and went on to study law at Cleveland-Marshall Law School.

Inspired by bass-baritone artist, actor, football player, and civil rights activist Paul Robeson, 1962, Stokes entered politics and became the first African American elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. His victory was a turning point in Ohio's political landscape and paved the way for greater representation of minorities in government. As a state legislator, Stokes focused on issues such as fair housing, education reform, and economic development for marginalized communities.

In 1967, Stokes achieved another historic milestone when he was elected mayor of Cleveland, becoming the first African American to lead a major American city. His election was deeply inspiring, as Stokes - the great-grandson of a slave - defeated Seth Taft, the grandson of a former US President, in a major election for political office. It was a watershed moment for the civil rights movement, demonstrating that African Americans could attain positions of power and influence in mainstream politics.

It was during Carl Stokes’ tenure as mayor when the Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969, causing a major environmental disaster. The river (which flows into Lake Erie in Cleveland) had been heavily polluted for decades due to industrial waste and sewage dumping. It had actually caught fire multiple times in the past due to the high levels of oil and other pollutants on its surface. But the 1969 fire gained significant attention because it happened during a time of growing environmental awareness, and Carl Stokes invited the media on a tour of the event, creating mass publicity over the issue. The fire became a symbol of the pollution problems plaguing many American waterways.

The Cuyahoga River fire helped galvanize the environmental movement and led to the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, which aimed to regulate and reduce pollution in the nation's waterways. It also contributed to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970, which was tasked with enforcing environmental laws and regulations to protect human health and the environment.

Carl Stokes's remarkable journey from poverty to political prominence is a great example of the resilience and spirit of the American dream. He defied expectations and challenged the status quo, leaving a lasting impact on Cleveland and the nation as a whole. His legacy serves as a reminder of the power of courage, determination, and leadership in the fight for a more just and fair society, including the protection of Earth’s ecosystems and natural resources.

Sources:

• https://www.nps.gov/people/carl-b-stokes.htm

• https://case.edu/ech/articles/s/stokes-carl-b

Mindset

“Some people grow into their dreams, instead of out of them.” — Lois McMaster Bujold

In the Works

On the action front, I completed two cleanups this past week: (1) a quick, 30-minute one in my neighborhood after work one afternoon.

…and (2) a 1-hour long one at the Cynwyd Heritage Trail head parking area, near Philadelphia. I was able to gather a lot of debris there, including the remnants of a tire, car parts, and the typical beverage and food containers, totaling about 40 lbs.

I used my EJG tongs for both of these cleanups, as they are ideally suited for this mixed urban and forest/ green terrain, as I described in my detailed review of litter grabbers.

On the knowledge sharing front, since I have had lots of new subscribers lately, I am including a couple of my past articles many folks asked me about: the benefits of cleaning up, which explains a lot of what drives me to do all this, and what apps to use to track your litter cleanups.

I have a few additional projects in the works, mainly on the administrative front and to set the stage for further growth of the OneBeautifulPlanet.org effort. For example, I recently hired an excellent web designer who will help me upgrade the website and give it a more professional look. Expect more on this front in the weeks ahead!

Lastly, if you missed my post on my takeaways from cleaning up with folks at Bennett Compost in North Philadelphia at the end of January, I link it again below. The article was re-posted by the team at Tookany-Takony/Frankford Watershed Partnership on their blog as well.

If you found this newsletter helpful or interesting, please share with your friends, contacts, and anyone you know who may benefit from following my journey. Let’s gain some knowledge, and take action toward a cleaner, healthier world!

Thank you.

Razvan