Jewel C. Stradford Lafontant's career was marked by numerous groundbreaking achievements. In 1946, she became the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Chicago Law School. By 1955, she had broken another barrier as the first African American woman to serve as assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Her pioneering path continued in 1973 when she became the first woman appointed deputy U.S. solicitor general.
Lafontant's life was deeply rooted in social justice advocacy, influenced by her family background. Born in 1922 to a prominent African American family, her father, C. Francis Stradford, co-founded the National Bar Association and her mother, Aida Arabella, was an artist and homemaker.
Her legal aspirations were inspired by her parents' teachings and experiences during significant historical events like the Oklahoma race riots of 1921. “I never had an idea that I couldn’t be a lawyer,” Lafontant once stated.
She worked at her father's law office during high school summers and witnessed landmark cases such as Hansberry v. Lee, which challenged racially restrictive housing covenants.
After earning a political science degree from Oberlin College and attending the University of Chicago Law School, Lafontant faced initial employment challenges due to racial barriers but eventually became a trial attorney handling landlord-tenant disputes.
In 1955, President Eisenhower appointed her assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois—a position she left after becoming a mother to John W. Rogers Jr., who later founded Ariel Capital Management (now Ariel Investments).
Lafontant's professional journey included significant legal victories such as Lynumn v. Illinois in the U.S. Supreme Court and active participation in Republican politics during the 1960s.
President Nixon appointed her Deputy U.S. Solicitor General in 1973—the highest-ranking female position in his administration at that time.
Throughout her career, Lafontant served on more than 20 executive boards including Jewel Companies and Mobil while contributing to educational institutions like Oberlin College and Howard University.
Despite facing assumptions about being a figurehead due to race and gender, Lafontant valued recognition for her expertise: “We’re inviting you on the board because of your expertise,” one corporate president told her.
Under George H.W. Bush’s administration in the late '80s, she served as U.S ambassador-at-large for refugee affairs among other roles until marrying business consultant Naguib S Mankarious before passing away at age 75 in 1997.
“The law is still the greatest vehicle through which to bring about justice and equality,” said Lafontant—an ethos she embodied throughout life.