Did you know there have been 14 members of the Nebraska Legislature representing North Omaha who are African American?
The first Black person to run for the Omaha City Council and the Nebraska Legislature was Edwin R. Overall, a government worker and abolitionist who lost in 1890. However, his friend Senator Dr. Matthew Ricketts (1893-1897) won just two years later.
Fast Facts About North Omaha’s Black Legislators

- There was a 19-year gap between the first Black legislator and the second one (1897-1926). There have been no gaps since.
- Senator Ernie Chambers is the longest-serving state senator in Nebraska history, having represented North Omaha for 46 years.
- The first African American man elected to the former Nebraska House of Representatives was Dr. Ricketts in 1893.
- The first African American man elected to the unicameral Nebraska Legislature was John Adams Jr. in 1937.
- The first African American woman appointed to the Nebraska Legislature was JoAnn Maxey of Lincoln in 1977.
- The first African American women elected to the Nebraska Legislature were Tanya Cook and Brenda Council in 2009.
- Every African American legislator in Nebraska was elected from North Omaha except for Senator Maxey, who was from Lincoln.
Biographies of North Omaha’s African American Legislators
Following are North Omaha’s Black Legislators, serving the community’s political interests without prejudice and accomplishing what many other state senators have never tried and wouldn’t have been able to do.

1. Dr. Matthew Ricketts, 1893-1897

Born to enslaved parents in Kentucky, Dr. Matthew Ricketts (1858-1917) was the first African American member of the Nebraska Legislature. He was a Republican who represented North Omaha. Dr. Ricketts’ general practice office was on North 24th Street, until 1903 when he moved to St. Joseph, Missouri. Learn more about him »
2. Dr. John A. Singleton, 1926–1928

Dr. John Singleton was a dentist on North 24th Street and the son of a political activist in Omaha. He was a Republican who became a Democrat, and represented the Ninth District. Learn more about him »
3. Ferdinand L. Barnett, 1927-1928

Elected in 1926, Barnett was a civil rights activist who founded a Black newspaper in North Omaha. He was a Republican representing the Tenth District. Learn more about him »
4. Dr. Aaron M. McMillan, 1929–1930

Dr. Aaron M. McMillan served in the Nebraska Legislature from 1928 to 1930. He was a Republican who represented the Ninth District. Learn more about him »
5. Johnny Owen, 1932–1935

Johnny Owen was a phenomonal athlete who became a designated leader in Omaha’s African American community, and was a Democrat who served the Ninth District. Learn more about him »
6. John Adams, Jr., 1935–1941

John Adams, Jr. was a lawyer who became a legislator in the last session of the Nebraska House of Representatives, and the only and African American member of the first session, and the first African American member of the Nebraska unicameral. Learn more about him »
7. John Adams, Sr., 1949–1962

A lawyer and minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, John Adams, Sr. was a Republican who served the Fifth District. Learn more about him »
8. Edward Danner, 1963–1970

Edward Danner was a Democrat who represented the Eleventh District, and served from 1963 to 1970. Learn more about him »
9. George W. Althouse, 1970

Mr. Althouse was appointed as a Nebraska Legislator after the sudden death of Edward Danner. He was a Republican who served the Eleventh District. Learn more about him »
10. Ernie Chambers, 1971–2009, 2013–present

The longest serving state senator in Nebraska history, Ernie Chambers is considered an icon. He was an Independent who represented the Eleventh District in North Omaha. Learn more about him »
11. Brenda J. Council, 2009–2013

A long-time labor lawyer, Brenda Council served on the Omaha School Board and the Omaha City Council, and ran for Mayor of Omaha twice before running for Nebraska Legislature. She is a Democrat who represented the Eleventh District. Learn more about her »
12. Tanya Cook, 2009–2016

Tanya Cook is a public relations professional who runs her own business. She is a Democrat who represented the Thirteenth District. Learn more about her »
13. Justin Wayne, 2017-Present

Once a labor lawyer for the Union Pacific, Justin Wayne (born 1979) owns his own practice. He is a Democratic who represents the Thirteenth District. Learn more about him »
14. Terrell McKinney

Terrell McKinney (born 1990) is currently a student at Creighton University’s School of Law. Representing the Eleventh District district since 2020, he is a father and a community organizer. Learn more about him »
African American Legislators from North Omaha
Legislator | Years Served | Life | Party | District | |
1. | Dr. Matthew Ricketts | 1893–1897 | 1858–1917 | Republican | |
2. | Dr. John A. Singleton | 1926–1928 | 1895–1970 | Democrat/Republican | 9th |
3. | Ferdinand L. Barnett | 1927–1928 | 1854–1932 | Republican | 10th |
4. | Dr. Aaron M. McMillan | 1929–1930 | 1895–1980 | Republication | 9th |
5. | Johnny Owen | 1932–1935 | 1907–1978 | Democrat | 9th |
6. | John Adams, Jr. | 1935–1941 | 1906–1999 | Democrat | 9th |
7. | John Adams, Sr. | 1949–1962 | 1876-1962 | Republican | 5th |
8. | Edward Danner | 1963–1970 | 1900–1970 | Democrat | 11th |
9. | George W. Althouse | 1970 | 1896–1981 | Democrat | 11th |
10. | Ernie Chambers | 1971–2009, 2013–2020 | 1937– | Independent | 11th |
11. | Brenda J. Council | 2009–2013 | 1955– | Democrat | 11th |
12. | Tanya Cook | 2009–2016 | 1964– | Democrat | 13th |
13. | Justin Wayne | 2017-present | 1979– | Democrat | 13th |
14. | Terrell McKinney | 2020-present | 1990- | Democrat | 11th |
You Might Like…
- A History of Politics in North Omaha
- A History of Community Leaders in North Omaha
- A Tour of Omaha’s Civil Rights Movement
MY ARTICLES ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATORS FROM NORTH OMAHA:
PEOPLE: Dr. Matthew Ricketts (1893–1897) | Dr. John A. Singleton (1926–1928) | Ferdinand L. Barnett (1927-1928) | Dr. Aaron M. McMillan (1929-1930) | Johnny Owen (1932-1935) | John Adams, Jr. (1935-1941) | John Adams, Sr. (1949-1962) | Edward Danner (1963-1970) | George W. Althouse (1970) | Ernie Chambers (1971–2009, 2013–2020) | Brenda J. Council (2009-2013) | Tanya Cook (2009-2016) | Justin Wayne (2017-present) | Terrell McKinney (202 0-present)