During Black History Month, it’s interesting to explore black history in Omaha and Nebraska.
For example, you may not have known:
A note of thanks
“UNMC’s Department of Human Resources also would like to thank those that have partnered with us for our Black History Month events, including the Colleges of Medicine and Nursing, UNMC G.R.A.D.S. and Nebraska Medicine Human Resources,” said Linda Cunningham, one of the event organizers. “Their outstanding support is sincerely valued and appreciated.”
- The first free black person to live in Omaha was Sally Bayne in 1854.
By 1910, Omaha had the third largest black population among western cities after Los Angeles and Denver. - The Omaha Star printed its first edition on July 9, 1938. They printed 5,000 copies that sold for a dime apiece.
- Dr. Matthew Oliver Ricketts was Nebraska’s first African American legislator, serving from 1893 to 1897. He was also Nebraska’s first African American doctor, and first African American graduate of a higher education institution, Omaha Medical College.
In the spirit of exploring Omaha’s black history, send your answers to the following quiz to Jackie Hankins by 5 p.m. Feb. 12, and be entered in a drawing for prizes donated by Munroe-Meyer Institute, the UNMC Department of Human Resources and the UNMC Bookstore. Five people will be chosen at random from among those who answer all questions correctly.
1. Who was the first African American to be admitted to the bar and also the first African American attorney in Nebraska?
2. Who was the first black African American elected to the Omaha City Council?
3. What year was Ernie Chambers elected to the Nebraska State Legislature?
4. Who was the first African American female principal in Omaha Public Schools?
5. Who was the first black news journalist on television in the state of Nebraska?
6. Who was the first African-American faculty member at the University of Nebraska at Omaha?
(Answers will be given in Friday’s “For the Record” article in UNMC Today.)