January 7, 2010

Mayor Michael Bloomberg scored a feather in his cap at the funeral services for Harlem power-broker Percy E. Sutton when he announced that an educational complex will be named in honor of the titanic personality.

The mayor stated that a building housing three, Manhattan public schools would carry the name of the New York businessman. Located at 135th St. & Edgecombe Ave., the complex he said represented the legacy of an individual who persevered against the odds Jim Crow offered the son of a slave. Mayor Bloomberg spoke of how Sutton escaped the south by stowing away on a train bound for New York City. Mayor Bloomberg hailed Sutton’s enduring commitment to succeed by highlighting the six career ventures he embraced to own 18 radio stations across America.

He spoke from the pulpit of Riverside Church amid a sea of distinguished personalities, politicians and patrons who bade a public farewell which was broadcasted live on New York One, the 24-hour news TV channel.

Stevie Wonder spoke at length about his association with the Apollo Theater savior. The Grammy-winning singer/songwriter also delivered a heart-felt rendition of his hit – “I’ll Be Loving You Always.”

The repetitive and seemingly glaring tributes to Sutton focused on his role in the military as intelligence officer with the all-Black fighter, pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Dr. Roscoe Brown, one of Sutton’s colleagues during the World War II offensive in Italy praised his longtime friend during a nostalgic re-telling of the wartime detail. When he ended the nostalgia, surviving Tuskegee Airmen saluted Sutton, the war hero.

Attallah Shabazz, the eldest daughter of El Hajj Malik Shabazz (Malcolm X) and Dr. Betty Shabazz exuded grief during a testimony she gave about Sutton’s dedication to her family. Fighting back tears, she cited the responsibility Sutton willingly accepted after her father’s brutal murder at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem. She explained that much had been stated about his legal representation to the exclusion of other paternal embrace he consistently applied to her four siblings and nephew.

Attorney General Eric Holder offered condolences from Pres. Barrack Obama.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Cong. Charles B. Rangel, Sen. Charles Schumer, former Mayor David N. Dinkins, former Secretary of NY State Basil A. Paterson, and a myriad of community representatives offered tributes to the multi-tiered mogul, former borough president, and attorney.

Rachel Robinson, widow of baseball great Jackie Robinson was among the thousands who gathered early at the Morningside Heights location in Manhattan.

Although the service lasted three hours, time did not allow many friends and associates to extol the virtues they seemed desperate to share with the congregation.

Harlem Week organizer Lloyd Williams took the opportunity to announce that the summer festivities would be dedicated to Sutton. He also said Black History Month activities will also mark his honor next month.

A procession along 125th St. in Harlem stopped in front of the Apollo Theatre which was rescued from bankruptcy when Sutton bought the property in 1981.