MALCOM X’S LAWYER, PERCY SUTTON DIES

Posted on December 29, 2009 by juicyhighlights No Comments

 Son of a former slave, civil rights activist, lawyer and media mogul, Percy Sutton,  died on  Saturday 26, 2009.  Percy Sutton, began his mark in Harlem on 125th street right after his release from the famed Tuskegee Airmen in World War II.  After World War II, in 1953  Sutton founded his Harlem law office , which represented Malcom X,  his family and over 200 cases during the civil rights marches in the south during 1963-64.   Later on  The NAACP  made him President for 2 terms as well as Sutton becoming a great influence on his community and the government.

     While working as a lawyer Sutton became a well-known politician that served in the New York State Assembly, which later he  became the Manhattan borough President in 1966.  Well after that election, Sutton was known as the highest ranked official in the state of  New York.  Although, his  run for senate and mayor wasnt a  success,  he took a lead in becoming a great political advisor for Jessie Jackson when he was running for President , as well as helping President Obama during his campaign.  Not only was Sutton into politics, but he also found other ways to help support the black community as well as leave his imprint.  In 1971,  Sutton and his brother  bought out WLIB-AM , which later turned into what we know as today WBLS  the first black owned radio station in New York as well as the home of Steve Harvey.  

     Along with the major change in radio, Sutton took it upon himself to reconstruct The Infamous Apollo and became the  head of the  group that  ran the  leading and second largest black weekly newspaper in the country  called ” The Amsterdam News”. Overall, I would like to send my condolences to the Sutton family and most Importantly i would like to thank him for making such a change and being a great influence on the black community.