Abstract
Reverend Hilton Smith discusses his journey from North Carolina to Cleveland in 1968, drawn by Carl Stokes' historic mayoral victory. Smith worked as a field epidemiologist for the Cleveland Public Health Department before joining Turner Construction Company in 1972. He became one of the first African American board members of the Cleveland City Club in 1972, joining alongside Rena Blumberg, the first female board member. Smith describes the City Club as a "citadel of free speech" that provided rare opportunities for racial integration and dialogue during the civil rights era. He served as chairman of the program committee, bringing speakers like Ralph David Abernathy, Charles Rangel, and George Bush to address the club. Smith reflects on Cleveland's racial climate during the 1960s and 1970s, including the contentious school busing debates following Judge Battisti's desegregation ruling. He credits Carl Stokes with giving African Americans hope and breaking barriers, while acknowledging that racism persisted in more subtle forms. Smith emphasizes the City Club's role as a neutral forum for diverse viewpoints rather than a policy-making organization. The interview concludes with Smith's call for Cleveland to unite as "we" rather than "you people" to ensure the city's future success.
Loading...
Interviewee
Smith, Hilton (interviewee)
Interviewer
Humphrey, Tom (interviewer)
Project
City Club - Civil Rights
Date
8-8-2006
Document Type
Oral History
Duration
59 minutes
Recommended Citation
"Hilton Smith interview, 08 August 2006" (2006). Cleveland Regional Oral History Collection. Interview 807017.
https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/crohc000/800
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License.
