Former Tuskegee Airman Percy Sutton's funeral services were held yesterday in New York. Among those in attendance were Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Gov. David Paterson, Sen. Charles Schumer, Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson. "The tallest tree in our forest has fallen," Jackson said of Sutton, who died on Dec. 26. He was 89. "You've paved the way, Mr. Chairman. Be at rest," Jackson concluded. Mayor Bloomberg stated that city buildings lowered flags in honor of Sutton, and that a building that houses three Manhattan public schools would be renamed the Percy Ellis Sutton Educational Complex.

Sutton founded his Harlem law firm in 1953 and served as Malcolm X's attorney during that time. In 1971 he and his brother became the owners of a New York City radio station, which ranked ah New York's top-rated radio station for four years. He eventually purchased other radio stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit and San Antonio. Sutton also bought the Apollo Theater in 1981.

Marc Morial, the president of the National Urban League, referred to Sutton's involvement in civil rights, politics and law when he stated : "He was part of a generation that transformed the nation. He was a renaissance man."

I spoke with Rev. Sharpton about Percy Sutton for a very long time on his nationally-syndicated radio show.
I sensed an admiration and reverence for Sutton that showed that this man has impacted millions of lives in his long and noteworthy career. He was a first in many regards and a reminder of the greatness that black men can aspire to when we put our minds to it. I hope you'll do some research on the life of this great man, for he was surely one of a kind.

Percy Sutton - you will be missed.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.