Page 27 - 2016septissue

The Butler's Child is the personal story of a Warner Brothers In this surprising and moving
family grandson who spent more than fifty years as a fighting, no memoir, the legendary rap star and
holds barred civil rights lawyer. Lewis M. Steel explores why he, a co­founder of Run D.M.C. keeps it
privileged white man, devoted his life to seeking racial progress in
often uncomprehending or hostile courts. In fact, after writing a a hundred percent, speaking out
feature for The New York Times Magazine entitled "Nine Men in about his battle with depression
Black Who Think White," Lewis was fired from the NAACP and
and overcoming suicidal
the entire legal staff resigned in support of him. Lewis speaks thoughts—one of the most
about his family butler, an African American man named William devastating yet little known health
Rutherford, who helped raise Lewis, and their deep but ultimately issues plaguing the black

troubled relationship, as well as how Robert L. Carter, the community today.
NAACP's extraordinary general counsel, became Lewis' mentor,

father figure and lifelong close friend.

Lewis exposes the conflicts which arose from living and working
in two very different worlds ­ that of the Warner Brothers family
and that of a civil rights lawyer. He also explores his more than
fifty year marriage that joined two very different Jewish and Irish

American families.

Lewis' work with the NAACP and in private practice created legal
precedents still relevant today. The Butler's Child is also an

insider's look into some of the most important civil rights cases
from the turbulent 1960's to the present day by a man still working

to advance the civil rights which should be available to all.t