Category: Black History

African American people, places and events from the history of Omaha, Nebraska.

20th century, Black History, History of Nebraska, Omaha, Race riot, Racism3 Comments

A History of the 1919 Lynching and Riot in Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Omaha has many histories that need to be told. Places, people and events that happened over the last 160 years have been forgotten, neglected or repressed, and that’s what I am most interested in. The story of Will Brown is one such story. It represents the ugly, hateful history of this city that has driven a lot of today’s violence, ignorance and pain that has prevented North Omaha from moving forward. Here is a powerful video featuring the lynching of Will Brown, and I highly recommend you watch the entirety of it. There is graphic content.   You Might Like… … Continue reading A History of the 1919 Lynching and Riot in Omaha

20th century, Black History, Culture, History of Nebraska, Near North Side, North 24th Street, Politics, Racism, White flightLeave a comment

A Time for Burning

Adam Fletcher Sasse

One of the most powerful documentaries to ever be made in Omaha is called A Time For Burning. Nominated for an Academy Award for documentary filmmaking in 1966, the film highlights then-barber/future Nebraska legislator Ernie Chambers. A graduate of the Creighton University Law School, he was elected Senator to the Nebraska Legislature in 1970. By 2005 he had become the longest-serving state Senator in the history of Nebraska. This is a powerful clip from the film featuring Chambers talking with the minister of a Lutheran church who was trying to integrate his congregation. Learn more about the film. You Might … Continue reading A Time for Burning

20th century, Architecture, Black History, Near North Side, Race riot, Racism, White flight2 Comments
David Deal North Omaha Nebraska

A History of the Black Association for Nationalism Through Unity (BANTU) in Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

One of the places that sparks my imagination greatly is when my varying interests overlap, and that’s why today’s post on BANTU particularly excites me. From the pioneering Civil Rights efforts of Dr. Matthew Ricketts In the 1910s and 1920s, … Continue reading A History of the Black Association for Nationalism Through Unity (BANTU) in Omaha

Architecture, Black History, Civic Infrastructure, Culture, Kountze Place, Near North Side, North 24th Street, Politics, Race riot, Racism, White flight55 Comments
This is a colorized version of a 1938 pic of 24th and Willis. Image courtesy of the Durham Museum.

A History of 24th Street in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

North 24th Street in North Omaha, Nebraska, used to be a regular street of dreams. Home to immigrants and entrepreneurs, it hosted generations of families that made it. Then in the 1960s, several riots struck at the heart of the community. It hasn’t recovered in the 50 years since. Continue reading A History of 24th Street in North Omaha

Benson, Black History, Carter Lake, Civic Infrastructure, East Omaha, Florence, Fontenelle Boulevard, Kountze Place, Miller Park, Minne Lusa, Near North Side, Omaha, Racism, Saratoga, schools, White flight50 Comments
Schools in North Omaha, from upper left: Fort Street Special School; Long School classroom; Pershing School; Florence School; Lake School; Florence School bus; Saratoga School; Florence School classroom; Monmouth Park School; Long School; Lake School students; Miller Park School

A History of Schools in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

If walls could talk, North Omaha’s schools would be much noisier, much more colorful, and much more complicated than anyone wants to hear. For more than 150 years, schools throughout the community have served students of all ages. With a deep history including segregation and school violence, its can be hard to remember all the positive people and events that emerged in the community’s schools. Following is my ever-growing history of the old schools in North Omaha. Continue reading A History of Schools in North Omaha

20th century, Black History, business, Civic Infrastructure, Crime, Economics, Government, Lost history, Near North Side, North 16th Street, North 24th Street, North 30th Street, North Omaha, Politics, Poverty, Race riot, Racism, society, White flight, Wrecked buildings7 Comments
On June 27, 1969, these kids were pictured going through one of the burned out businesses along North 24th Street after the killing of Vivian Strong.

A History of the North Omaha Riots

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Because of when the riots happened and what they did, there are scars on North O that that haven’t healed almost 50 years later. Here’s a history of what happened. Continue reading A History of the North Omaha Riots

Black History, Culture, History of Nebraska, Near North Side, North 24th StreetLeave a comment

A Video History of the Dreamland Ballroom in North Omaha

Adam Fletcher Sasse

Here is a video by Waymaker Media with a short history of the Dreamland Ballroom on North 24th Street in North Omaha. Make sure you like the video and leave comments on YouTube! You Might Like… A History of the Jewell Building and Dreamland Ballroom A History of the 24th and Lake Historic District A History of the Carnation Ballroom in North Omaha A Short History of The Stage II Lounge A History of North Omaha’s Elks Hall and Iroquois Lodge 92 BONUS PICS! Continue reading A Video History of the Dreamland Ballroom in North Omaha

16th century, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century, Black History, historic preservation, History of Nebraska, Lost history, society6 Comments
North Omaha History Part 1: Before 1885 by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com

A History of North Omaha Part 1: Before 1885

Adam Fletcher Sasse

This is “A History of North Omaha, Part 1: Before 1885” by Adam Fletcher Sasse for NorthOmahaHistory.com. Almost a thousand years ago early American Indians roamed the thick woodlands the lined the Missouri River bottoms in East Omaha. There were … Continue reading A History of North Omaha Part 1: Before 1885