Ohio’s First Black Woman Lawyer Daisy Perkins

Daisy Perkins was Ohio’s first Black woman lawyer, a trailblazer who defied expectations and carved out a career in criminal defense at a time when both her race and gender made that nearly impossible. But her story is not one of simple triumph—it’s one of controversy, resilience, and ultimately, downfall.

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Jesse Bethea, a freelance features writer at Columbus Underground and the author of Daisy’s Way: The Wild and Tragic Career of Ohio’s First Black Woman Lawyer, a four-part series that unpacks Perkins’ complex legacy. We explored her rise to prominence, her high-profile legal battles, and the perjury conviction that ended her career.

From courtroom drama and political ambition to police misconduct and systemic bias, we discussed the forces that shaped Perkins’ fate and what her story reveals about justice—then and now. Whether you see her as a legal maverick, a victim of discrimination, or a cautionary tale, Daisy Perkins’ story is one that demands to be told.

Shownotes

• Daisy Perkins series on Columbus Underground
• Ohio Channel video on Daisy Perkins

Full transcript on page 2.

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