Fun Fact # 284 Stalwart Stewart

 Fun Fact # 284

Stalwart Stewart

Living in the Era of Plessy V. Ferguson, MCcants Steward had to grow up where every street corner practiced “Separate but equal”. In spite of the times, he still chose to go to Tuskegee and get his law degree before moving to the state of Oregan –becoming the first African American Lawyer in the state. Here he managed to distinguish himself as a hardworking, reliable Lawyer who was loyal to his community, and would gain national attention when he won Taylor V. Cohn at the Oregon Supreme Court. However his business never took off, which combined with his deteriorating health caused him to commit suicide in April of 1919. 

Yet his reputation would live on, The newspaper he founded (The Advocate) continued to push for civil rights, while his daughter would become a notable speaker for the NAACP. As for The Law, his death brought many to wonder if they had been wrong about African American Lawyers. His legacy would open up the doors for more African Americans to practice law and be able to continue his work of breaking down the barriers between races. 

Image from Wikipedia by Elizabeth Clarke Wolstenholme Elmy