State Bar of Michigan President State Bar President James Heath (left) and Michigan State College of Law Dean Linda Sheryl Greene pictured at the August 25 unveiling of the 44th Michigan Legal Milestone honoring Percy J. Langster.
(Photo courtesy of SBM)
In one of the State Bar of Michigan's largest Michigan Legal Milestones celebrations, more than 100 people gathered in Idlewild on August 25 to recognize the achievements of Percy J. Langster, the first Black prosecutor elected in the United States.
Langster (1889-1954) served as Lake County prosecutor from 1949-1950 and he is the 44th Michigan Legal Milestone. A bronze plaque commemorating his life and legacy was unveiled during the celebration at Yates Township Hall.
"I am so proud that Percy Langster will forever be memorialized through this Michigan Legal Milestone recognition. His courage and perseverance allowed him to challenge both direct and institutional racism," State Bar President James Heath said. "As the elected prosecutor for Lake County, he committed himself to delivering equal justice within a system which overtly marginalized Black citizens. All of us who have in some way taken on the task of making our society more fair and just owe Percy Langster a tremendous debt of gratitude."
Langster was one of two attorneys in Lake County when he challenged incumbent Dic I. Cooper - the county's other attorney - in a contentious race that saw Langster win the support of the incumbent sheriff and a majority of county candidates excluded from the ballot.
As home to Idlewild, Lake County had a significant Black population, but white voters still outnumbered Black voters 3 to 1 when Langster was elected. At the time, Idlewild was the largest Black summer resort community in the nation and some of those vacation-goers became year-round residents. Idlewild was made famous again by the 2006 movie of the same name.
Among the long list of dignitaries attending the August 25 event were Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Welch, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Michigan State University College of Law Dean Linda Greene, and dozens of elected officials, including judges, members of the SBM Board of Commissioners and township and county officers.
"It was a privilege to be able to participate in the celebration of a lawyer who stood for public service. And, in the celebration of a community that acknowledged 'the content of his character not the color of his skin,'" said Greene.
Michigan Legal Milestones are adopted by the State Bar of Michigan Board of Commissioners upon recommendation from a committee of volunteer attorneys. Milestones recognize significant people and legal cases in Michigan history. Bronze plaques are dedicated and placed in local communities to commemorate the significance of each Michigan Legal Milestone.
