Jewel C. Stradford Lafontant’s career path was recorded by many first.
In 1946, he became the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Chicago Law School. In 1955, he became the first African American woman to serve as an assistant US lawyer for the northern district of Illinois. Then in 1973, he was the first woman to be appointed Deputy Solicitor.
Its distinguished careers reflect a woman on a mission, in any role he occupied – decided to change the courtroom in politics.
The foundation of social justice propaganda
Lafontant was born in 1922 in Jewel Carter Stradford. His father, C. Francis was a lawyer and co-founder of the National Barist of Stradford; His mother was Aida Arabella, an artist and the host.
His grandfather, JB Stradford was also a prominent lawyer and the only black hotel in Oklahoma, Oklahoma; And grandmother, Bertie Wiley was a college education in Stradford.
Lafontant referred to her parents as the greatest inspiration that grows for different reasons.
His mother’s voice-To study, be independent, do what you want to do– In the beginning, it will burn with a confidence that he will take it with him during maturity. “I have never been an idea that I could not be a lawyer, I can’t be successful,” he said.
In his father’s work, it was his legal work that made a deep impression about him. Especially the story of a family can save the lives of the law.
During the 1921 Oklahoma race riots, the grandfather of the Lafontant’s grandfather and other features were burned to the ground and had to escape Tulsa. CF Stradford saved his father by fighting extradition proceedings. JB Stradford was forced to return to Tulsa in those days and could be killed.
“Therefore, I thought to be a lawyer, maybe the biggest thing you could do,” said Lafontant Timuel Black, AM’54, Oral history Memory bridges. “To be a lawyer, you can save your life.”
The idea that the law could change, was a deeper root for the lafontant while working in his father’s legal department during his high school broadcasts. 1940 was his secretary of the Supreme Court case Hanberry v leeThe racial restrictive housing contract has been closed.
Lafontant was watched in the footsteps of his father and grandparents and took part in the Oberlin College where he won the degree of political science. Oberlin, John W.48, John W.48, who was familiar with a Tuskegee Airman, who was a Tuskegee Airman, who was a Tuskegee Airman, who was a Tuskegee Airman, who was a Tuskegee Airman, who was a Tuskegee Airman, who was a Tuskegee Airman, who took part in the law project, experienced John W.48, JD’48.
“I never had an idea that I can’t be a lawyer, I could not be successful.”
As a student, the Lafontant was very politically active. He was always witnessed that his parents fought with any division shape, so there was no same surprise. He forced to close the lawsuits against restaurants sitting and physically abused and physically abused and untitled in Chicago restaurants.
After graduating, the lafontant was in trouble first finding a job. Aga’s legal firms refused to hire him, and even if they admit the American Barosu membership later, they rejected their membership. Finally, a lawyer used by the Lafontant, homeowner-rental disputes was the founder of the Ariel Capital management (now Ariel’s only child to become the founder of Ariel investments in John W. Rogers Jr.
Fly in his profession
The desire to continue the career of Lafontant after mothers, he created an assembly tension between her husband and her husband, because he was habited by the children of the women, he created tension with her husband and her husband. John Jr. Two years old were divorced, and the Lafontant continued to join his father’s legal experience.
Then he met a lawyer with a second husband: Haiti’s native place HH Ernest Lafontant. After marriage, they were two in a company called Stradford, Lafontant and Lafontant’s father.
In 1963, Lafontant won his first job in the US Supreme Court: Lynumn V Illinois. The customer defended the confession of Beatrice Lynumn, which was not legally accepted since he forced the lincumni by threatening the children of the police.
Remarkable work Miranda v. The state of Arizona burn Lynumn V IllinoisThe most important event of the Lafontant’s career is considered.
