The Last 25 Years in Omaha Black History

From 2000 to 2025, Omaha’s African American community has morphed dramatically. The last quarter-century was a period marked by notable population growth, historic political and social achievements, and ongoing struggles for civil rights and racial justice. Black leaders have had rising influence in politics, business, and culture, while the community has also faced persistent challenges of police brutality and systemic racism, as well as community-led efforts to preserve history and build a more equitable future. This is a summary of some of the last 25 years of Omaha’s Black history.

2000-2005: Growth, Leadership, and Recognition

DreamStreet Townhomes, N. 24th and Blondo Streets, North Omaha, Nebraska — These are the DreamStreet Townhomes built in the 2000s at North 24th and Blondo Streets.

At the start of the 21st century, Omaha’s Black population grew to an 18% increase that brought the number to 51,910 residents. A majority of this population resided in North Omaha. During this period, the city acknowledged prominent Black figures.

At the beginning of this era, in 2000 the federal government renamed a North Omaha post office in memory of Rev. J.C. Wade, a leader in the Omaha Civil Rights movement. Ahman Green starred as an elite running back for the Green Bay Packers in 2000, and Houston Alexander beginning his professional MMA career in 2001. The Fair Deal Cafe, a historical hub for the Black community, closed its doors in 2003 after nearly 50 years.

In 2003, Omaha saw a significant first when Thomas Warren, brother of politician Brenda Council, was appointed the city’s first African-American Chief of Police. The next year, the city mourned the death of international jazz legend Preston Love, Sr. Named in honor of the late jazz great Preston Love Sr., the Love’s Jazz and Arts Center opened in 2004 as a cultural hub in North Omaha that provided a space for performances, exhibitions, and educational programs to help preserve the area’s rich artistic legacy. It closed permanently in 2020.

In 2005, a major political milestone was reached when Ernie Chambers became the longest-serving state senator in Nebraska history, a title he would hold again in the coming years. That same year, Marlon Polk was appointed as the first African-American District Court Judge in Nebraska, and Lorenzo Cain started his professional baseball career.

2006-2010: Political Shifts and Community Challenges

This is a visual map of the racial composition of Omaha as of 2010. Green represents African American; orange, Hispanic/Latino; red, Asian American; blue, white. From the Racial Dot Map at https://demographics.virginia.edu/DotMap/index.html — This is a visual map of the racial composition of Omaha as of 2010. Green represents African American; orange, Hispanic/Latino; red, Asian American; blue, white. From the Racial Dot Map.

This era was marked by political and social shifts. In 2006, a proposal to re-segregate Omaha Public Schools was passed by the Nebraska Legislature but was later challenged and retracted. The same year, the Empowerment Network began as a collaborative effort and has been a major Black-led force in revitalizing North and South Omaha through employment, education, and housing.

The city’s poverty was a persistent issue, and in a 2007 report noted Omaha had the fifth-highest percentage of low-income African Americans among the largest cities in the country, with over 7,800 families in Douglas County living below the poverty line.

In politics, after serving since 1970, Ernie was forced from office in 2008 due to a new term limit law. However, his influence remained, and he was re-elected in 2009.

The election of Tanya Cook and Brenda Council in 2008 marked the first time two African American women were elected to the Nebraska State Legislature.

The professional boxing career of North Omaha native Terence “Bud” Crawford began in 2008, too.

2011-2015: New Leaders and Ongoing Activism

In this picture from the newspaper, Lee Wesley Gibson shakes hands with 66-year-old Willie James, a retired Union Pacific chef on Feb. 29, 2012. 101-yr.-old former Union Pacific porter, Lee Wesley Gibson, visits Union Pacific headquarters in downtown Omaha, Nebraska.

This period highlighted new leaders and ongoing activism against injustice. Sherrye Hutcherson and Eric Butler became the first Black executives at OPPD and Union Pacific, respectively. In 2011, Marcia Anderson became the first African American female major general in the U.S. Army.

Also in 2011, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a state holiday in Nebraska.

This was also the decade of author and politician Dinah Abrahamson and the rise of businessman and political figure Herman Cain, a former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza who ran for president in 2012. Before that, he served on the Federal Reserve.

Community members worked to address historical injustices, with the discovery of lost Black soldiers’ burial sites at Laurel Hill Cemetery by Creola Woodall. Police brutality remained a major concern, highlighted by the 2013 beating of the Johnson brothers by the Omaha Police Department, an incident that garnered international attention.

2016-2020: Cultural Recognition and Civil Unrest

Fair Deal Cafe, 2118 N. 24th Street, North Omaha, Nebraska — This is the new Fair Deal Cafe, 2118 N. 24th Street, opened in late 2016.

In 2016, native Omahan Symone Sanders gained national recognition serving as national press secretary for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign and later as a senior advisor for Vice President Kamala Harris. Today, she’s a prominent political strategist and commentator, and in 2022, a street sign on North 22nd Street was named in her honor.

Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, the Great Plains Black History Museum faced challenges and periods of closure, including a move from its original location. In 2017, it successfully relocated to the historic Jewell Building on North 24th Street to continue its mission of preservation and education.

A journalism effort called NOISE (North Omaha Information Serves Everyone) was established in 2018 with a goal of creating a model for community-led local news and information in North Omaha. It ceased publication in 2022.

The years leading up to 2020 were marked by cultural and community-building initiatives alongside intense social upheaval. The Girls Inc. Katherine Fletcher Center was named in honor of a trailblazing Black educator. Also in 2020, a statue of football pioneer Marlin Briscoe was dedicated at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

This period also saw the deaths of former Omaha Black Panther leaders Mondo we Langa and Ed Poindexter, who died in prison after decades of incarceration.

In 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Omaha saw large-scale protests against police brutality. The fatal shooting of protester James Scurlock during a demonstration became a focal point of this activism. These events led to a lawsuit against the Omaha Police Department for excessive force.

In a positive development, the 24th and Lake Historic District was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2021-2025: Preservation and Political Firsts

Preston Love, Jr. and Adam Fletcher Sasse in December 2021 — This is Preston Love, Jr. and the author, Adam Fletcher Sasse, in December 2021.

In the 2020s, Omaha’s African American population continues to transform the city through community investment and leadership. While a majority of the population still lives in North Omaha, new initiatives are creating change.

The Carver Legacy Center, a Black-led financial institution, opened in 2022 at the historic 24th and Lake intersection to address the wealth gap and support Black entrepreneurs. The community has also worked to preserve its history, opening the Moriah Heritage Center and placing historical markers at the sites of the lynchings of Will Brown and George Smith.

This year, a major political milestone highlighted the area. In 2025, John Ewing Jr. was elected the first Black Mayor of Omaha and the first Democrat to hold the office since 2009, signaling a new era of leadership for the city.

Closing

This is St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church at 1001 North 30th Street. Built as Our Savior Lutheran Church, it was home to the Afro American Academy of Dramatic Arts starting in 1972.

Over the period from 2000 to 2025, Omaha’s African American community experienced a dynamic blend of progress and persistent challenges. The decades were marked by significant demographic growth and a rise in political representation, as trailblazers achieved historic firsts in judicial, executive, and legislative roles at both local and state levels. Community-led initiatives focused on economic empowerment and cultural preservation, celebrating history through new institutions, memorials, and the recognition of historic districts. However, this progress was set against the backdrop of ongoing struggles with systemic issues, including a high rate of poverty and repeated instances of police misconduct, which fueled major protests. It culminated with a landmark political victory, signaling a new chapter in the community’s journey towards equity and leadership.

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