Category: African Americans

• A History of North Omaha’s Stone Soul Picnic

  

  Black people in Omaha have celebrated, uplifted and empowered Black culture in the city for more than 150 years. Sometimes there are events and places that become synonymous with these celebrations. One of these happened for more than 25 years. This is a history of North Omaha’s Stone Soul Picnic. Before this Phenomenon Starting in […]

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  May 17, 2022

  21st century, African Americans, Black culture, Black organizations, Black spaces and places, Carter Lake, culture, events, historic preservation, Organizations, society

• A History of First United Presbyterian Church

  

  For only 40 years, a longtime congregation was at home in the Kountze Place neighborhood. They built a huge church, had a successful run, but couldn’t keep going. This is a history of the First United Presbyterian Church in North Omaha. A Pioneer Omaha Congregation In 1867, the Presbyterian church held services at “Beal’s Schoolhouse” […]

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  May 4, 2022

  20th century, 21st century, Black churches, Churches, historic preservation, Kountze Place, Presbyterian, wealthy, White flight, White people

• A History of Metoyer’s BBQ

  

  This is a history of Metoyer’s BBQ in North Omaha, Nebraska, which was open from 1958 to 1985.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  April 13, 2022

  20th century, 24th and Lake, Black businesses, North 24th Street, Restaurants

• A History of the Calhoun Hotel

  

  This is a history of the Calhoun Hotel, a Black hotel at 2423 Lake Street in North Omaha from 1946 to 1962.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  March 26, 2022

  20th century, 24th and Lake, Black businesspeople, Black hotels, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, Hotels, Lake Street, Lost history, North 24th Street

• A History of the Willis Hotel

  

  This is a history of Myrtle Washington’s High Class Colored Boarding House once located at 2324 N. 22nd Street, North Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  March 24, 2022

  20th century, 21st century, African Americans, Black businesspeople, Demolished buildings, Demolished buildings, Historic houses, houses, Lost history, Near North Side, Segregation

• A History of the City Interracial Committee

  

  This is the history of the City Interracial Committee, an attempt by youth in the 1930s to overcome segregation in Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  March 14, 2022

  20th century, Activism, Black organizations, Black people, Churches, Civil Rights Movement, culture, Education, historic preservation, Organizations, Segregation

• A History of Police Brutality in Omaha

  

  This article is a history of police brutality in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1887 to present.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  March 14, 2022

  19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Activism, African Americans, Black people, Civil Rights Movement, crime, economics, government, history, Lost history, Near North Side, North Omaha, Omaha Police Department, Poindexter and we Langa, Politics, poverty, Race riot, racism, schools, Segregation, society, White people

• A History of McMillan Magnet Center

  

  This is a history of McMillan Magnet Middle School, which was originally planned as North Junior High School, and operated as McMillan Junior High School, in North Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  February 23, 2022

  20th century, 21st century, African Americans, Florence Field, history, racism, schools, Segregation

• A History of the 3006 Building in North Omaha

  

  This is a history of the historic storefronts located at N. 24th and Binney Streets in North Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  February 9, 2022

  20th century, 21st century, Black businesses, Black spaces and places, Buildings, business, Grocery store, Lost history, North 24th Street, real estate, White flight

• A History of Music in North Omaha

  

  This is a summary of a LOT of music in North Omaha over the last 150 years, including jazz, soul, blues, hip hop, gospel, pop, and so much more. Get introduced some of the people, places, events, and more from North Omaha’s musical history.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  January 6, 2022

  19th century, 20th century, 21st century, African Americans, African Methodist Episcopal, Art, Baptist, Black churches, Black culture, Black educators, Black organizations, Black people, Black performers, Black spaces and places, Books, Buildings, Churches, Civil Rights Movement, Clubs, clubs, culture, government, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Jazz, Lost history, music, nightlife, religion, schools, Segregation, Social clubs, Social halls, Social services, society, theaters, Theaters, United Methodist, White flight, White people

• A History of The Omaha Guide

  

  This is a history of the Omaha Guide newspaper, a Black-owned and Black-focused semi-weekly in North Omaha, Nebraska from 1927 through 1956.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  December 7, 2021

  20th century, Black businesses, Black businesspeople, Black culture, Black spaces and places, culture, historic preservation, Newspapers

• A Biography of North Omaha’s Vic Walker

  

  Vic B. Walker (1864-c1925) was an African American attorney, police officer, business owner, and criminal in Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  December 2, 2021

  19th century, 20th century, biography, Black attorneys, Black businesspeople, Black leader, clubs, crime, History of Nebraska, Law, nightlife, racism

• A Biography of North Omaha’s Ollie William Jackson

  

  Ollie Jackson was pinned with being a notorious criminal in the hire of Tom Dennison. This is his biography.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  December 2, 2021

  19th century, 20th century, Black leader, Black people, Black politicians, Black spaces and places, crime, Forest Lawn burial, government, history, Near North Side

• A History of Relations between Jews and African Americans in Omaha

  

  This is a history of relations between Black people and Jews in Omaha, Nebraska. It details instances, occasions, places and spaces where the Jewish community interacted with the Black community in the city.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  November 29, 2021

  19th century, 20th century, 21st century, 24th and Lake, Activism, African Americans, Black people, Black politicians, Black spaces and places, business, Civil Rights Movement, culture, economics, Europeans, Historic districts, historic preservation, history, History of Nebraska, Immigrants, industry, Jewish, Lake Street, Legislators, Near North Side, North 16th Street, North 24th Street, Politics, poverty, Race riot, racism, religion, Segregation, wealthy, White flight, White people

• A History of North Omaha’s Red Dot Athletic Club

  

  This is a history of the Red Dot Athletic Club, a North Omaha sports association for young people from 1924 to 1926.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  November 27, 2021

  Black athletes, Black people, Clubs, Near North Side, Segregation, Sports

• A History of Jake Bird in North Omaha

  

  Jake Bird (1901–1949) murdered 4 people and attacked two others in the Omaha area in 1928. This is an account of what happened.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  November 5, 2021

  20th century, Black people, crime, Near North Side

• A History of 4402 Florence Boulevard in North Omaha

  

  Today it looks like a bland industrial space along a decrepit street in a rundown part of Omaha. However, once this gigantic building was a foothold into the middle class for hundreds of workers; and again it was a warehouse to store parts for the homes of thousands across the community. Soon it will have a new future as a tribute to a community scion and African American icon for all times. This is a history of 4402 Florence Boulevard in the Saratoga Belt Line Historic District of North Omaha.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  October 28, 2021

  20th century, 21st century, architecture, Belt Line, Belt Line Railway, Black organizations, Buildings, Florence Boulevard, historic preservation, Manufacturing, Saratoga

• A History of Rising Star Baptist Church in North Omaha

  

  This is a history of one of Omaha’s oldest African American churches, Morning Star Baptist Church.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  October 22, 2021

  20th century, 21st century, architecture, Baptist, Black churches, Buildings, Churches, historic preservation, Kountze Place, Lost history, Segregation, United Methodist, White flight

• A Biography of Joseph Carr

  

  There have been many African American leaders in Omaha throughout the city’s history. Some were politicians, others were businessmen; many were united in the cause to promote civil rights and liberty for Black people. One of them was a lawyer named Joseph Carr, and this is a biography of his life. Born on February 13, […]

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  September 30, 2021

  biography, Black people, Forest Lawn burial, Law, Prince Hall Masons

• Biography of George McPherson

  This is the story of Professor George T. McPherson (1864-c1915) of North Omaha, who was the preeminent pianist in Omaha for decades.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  March 22, 2021

  20th century, 21st century, African Americans, biography, culture, music

• History of the Bedford Place Neighborhood

  This is a history of the Bedford Place neighborhood in North Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  February 1, 2021

  19th century, 20th century, 21st century, Ames Ave, Ames Avenue, Black spaces and places, Buildings, business, civic infrastructure, crime, Demolished buildings, Druid Hill, economics, Grocery store, Historic houses, historic preservation, Lost history, Manufacturing, neighborhoods, North 30th, poverty, racism, White flight

• History of the Omaha Colored Baseball League

  

  This is a history of the Omaha Colored Baseball League.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  January 12, 2021

  20th century, Black athletes, racism, Segregation, Sports

• Biography of Anderson Bell

  

  This is a story of Pvt. Anderson Bell (1838-1903) of North Omaha, a Black soldier in the Civil War.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  January 11, 2021

  19th century, 20th century, biography, Black people, Forest Lawn burial, Military

• Biography of Florentine Pinkston

  

  This is a biography of Flora Pinkston (1887-1966) of North Omaha, Nebraska.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  January 5, 2021

  20th century, African Americans, biography, Black culture, Black educators, Black performers, culture, Education, music

• Life of Edwin Overall of North Omaha

  

  Throughout most of his life, Edwin Overall (1835–1901) dedicated himself fighting for civil rights. This is his story.

  Adam F.C. Fletcher

  December 22, 2020

  20th century, African Americans, biography, Black leader, Black organizations, Black politicians, economics, History of Nebraska, Lost history, Politics, racism, Segregation