Perry B. Jackson facts for kids

Perry Brooks Jackson (born January 27, 1896 – died March 20, 1986) was a very important person in Ohio's history. He was the first elected judge in Ohio who was African American. This means he made history by being chosen by voters to serve as a judge.

Early Life and Education

Perry Brooks Jackson was born in Zanesville, Ohio. He worked very hard to get his education. After finishing Zanesville High School, he paid for his own way through college. He went to Western Reserve University, which is now called Case Western Reserve University. He did so well that he graduated with high honors. In 1922, he earned his law degree from Western Reserve University School of Law. This meant he could become a lawyer.

A Career in Law and News

After becoming a lawyer, Perry Jackson started his legal career in the Cleveland area. He helped people with their legal problems. From 1923 to 1927, he also worked as an editor for a newspaper. This newspaper was called the Cleveland Call, which was a black newspaper in the city. He worked his way up to become the main editor. He left this job when the Cleveland Call joined with another newspaper, the Cleveland Post. Together, they became the Call and Post.

Serving the Public

Perry Jackson was very active in public service. He wanted to help his community.

Becoming a Lawmaker

In 1928, Jackson was elected to the Ohio Legislature. This group is also called the General Assembly. He was a member of the Republican party. He made history again by being the first African American to win an election across all of Cuyahoga County. Cleveland, Ohio, is in Cuyahoga County, and it was a very busy city back then.

While he was in the Ohio General Assembly, he helped make important changes. He worked to create permanent voter registration forms. These forms no longer asked about a person's color or race. This was a big step towards fairness for everyone. He also helped create laws about how notaries public should work.

Working for Cleveland City

Jackson also served on the Cleveland City Council. This group helps run the city of Cleveland. Later, he became an assistant police prosecutor from 1934 to 1941. He eventually became the chief prosecutor for the City of Cleveland. This meant he was in charge of legal cases for the city. From 1941 to 1942, he worked as a secretary for the director of public utilities in Cleveland.

Becoming a Judge

In 1942, Perry Jackson was appointed as a judge in the Cleveland Municipal Court. He took the place of another judge, David Moylan. In 1945, he won his first election to the Cleveland Municipal Court. He won two more elections for this court in 1951 and 1957. Each term lasted six years.

In 1960, Jackson won an election to a different court. This was the domestic relations division of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. He later won elections to other parts of the Common Pleas court too. He served the people of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County for 44 years. He passed away on March 20, 1986.

His Important Legacy

Perry Brooks Jackson left a lasting impact on Ohio. He was the first elected black judge in Ohio. He was also the first black American to win an election across all of Cuyahoga County. He not only opened doors for other African Americans in politics, but he also used the law to fight against unfair treatment.

For example, in 1935, he was at a meeting in a hotel. When the hotel refused to serve him because he was black, he sued them. He won $350 in damages, showing that such actions were wrong. He was also very involved in community groups like the local NAACP and the Urban League of Greater Cleveland. He helped many organizations in Northeast Ohio, including the Cleveland Area Church Federation, Goodwill Industries, and the Boy Scouts of America. Today, a scholarship in his name helps students from Zanesville High School pay for college.

See also

• List of African-American jurists
• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Ohio