Cleveland, OH
Charles V. Carr, a pioneer civil rights champion, brilliant politician and successful businessman, is still acknowledged as the God Father of black, and some white, politicians in Ohio. He served in Cleveland City Council for decades and was so powerful many called him "The Dean" of city council.
His role in opening doors of opportunity for blacks in employment, fair housing, quashing segregation in public places and influencing the appointment and election of judges and other public officials in Ohio and nationally is legondary in astute political circles.
Always too modest to talk about his accomplishments, even his family did not know of many of his accomplishments, until after his death. As a result, he has been left out of most of the history books.
He is not the person the kids know about and look up to, but he was one of the courageous and far sighted pioneers who made it possible for the accomplishments of those who so many look up to today.
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Ohio State Supreme Court Judge Lloyd O. Brown said,
"It can truly be said that he beat the odds in his climb to the top. Many of us can identify with the handicaps caused to one with black skin. However, not too many persons did or could have climbed to the heights this man did. Charles Carr, who has walked with kings and yet had been a servant to even the poorest of people, was a councilman for over 30 years. His major weapon was his mind and his dedication to serving Black people. As a lawyer and a master politician he has beaten the greatest of odds."
Think also of the good he did for the Black community as President and Chief Executive Officer of the old Quincy Savings and Loan Association. As such, he saw to it that Black homeowners were able to obtain mortgages that they had heretofore been denied. The many Black churches he helped save by providing them with the funds for building, they so desperately needed and were unable to obtain otherwise.
He obtained scholarships and grants for many young people and assisted others in the rehabilitation they needed who had criminal records.
As a major stockholder and Chief legal council for Supreme Life Insurance Company he saw to it that his company's money assisted the Black community on a regional scale. He provided protection and funds to Blacks that were not obtainable elsewhere.
While serving on the Board of the Regional Transit Authority, Carr saw to it that minority contractors be given a fair share of the regional contracts. Some of those contracts exceeded 20% to minorities.
It was Charles V. Carr who almost single handedly stopped the Cleveland Police Department from running wild in the Black community by inappropriately frisking women and breaking into homes without warrants for search and siezure.
It was Charles V. Carr who walked the picket lines with some of the better white community leaders insisting that Blacks get jobs in the Woodland Market, the Quincy Movie Theater, The Ohio Bell telephone Company and the East Ohio Gas Company.
Charles Carr withstood the test of his times and repeatedly rose victorious against countless opponents. For his efforts and example, he had streets and buildings named after him, and sat on the board of many major corporations.
"Charlie" Carr, a name he never liked but tolerated as being politically expedient, was a highly skilled parlimentarian. The Cleveland Plain Dealer even acknowledged that, "He knows all the players and comes up with the decisions that will work, he's the Old Fox, there's no one better."
Author Unknown, Published by Mirror Mirror Production
Copyright 2012 The Dean: Charles V. Carr. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH