Black History Month 2013
In recognition of the many achievements of African Americans through the years, I believe it worthwhile to recognize and recall some great Nebraska African Americans, as well as recognize a few other major moments and people that affected American history.
Most baseball fans know that the great Major Leaguer Bob Gibson is a native Omahan. The Hall of Famer grew up in the northern part of the city. He played baseball and basketball at Creighton University. Later, he played minor league baseball in Omaha before spending 17 years in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals. Gibson won two World Series championships with the Cards. He also won the Cy Young award twice as the best pitcher in the Majors. Gibson played basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters while with the Cardinals. He eventually focused on only baseball.
Malcolm X became a national leader of the National Order of Islam. Born Malcolm Little in 1925, his family lived in Omaha until 1929. They moved because of death threats to his father. Earl Little was a civil rights leader in Omaha. Following a series of threats against him and his family, The reverend moved them to Michigan.
Later in his life, following school and legal issues, Malcolm developed an interest in Islam. His brother Reginald was a leader in the National Order of Islam. Malcolm Little later changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. He rose to leadership quickly. After a few years, he had issues with the leader of Islam in the United States. He traveled abroad and returned to America with a renewed sense of brotherhood and started working toward integration.
In 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated while on stage during a speaking engagement in New York. More than 1500 people attended his funeral.
Another significant achievement in Omaha was the launching of the Omaha Star newspaper. The weekly newspaper was formed and managed by Mildred Brown and her husband (they divorced a few years later). The Alabama native was a mainstay of North Omaha and black journalism until her death in 1989. The Omaha Star remains a major black newspaper 75 years later.
The Omaha Star building was named to the National Register of Historic Places.
Other famous African Americans from Omaha and Nebraska include: Gale Sayers (Chicago Bears NFL Hall of Fame running back), John Beasley (TV and film actor), Alonza Davis (member of the famed Tuskegee Airman all-black pilots in World War II), Buddy Miles (funk musician, who played in Jimi Hendrix’s band), Johnny Rodgers (1972 Heisman Trophy winner), Ahman Green (NFL running back), Gabrielle Union (actress), and Ernie Chambers (state politician and civil rights leader).
In addition to learning of Omaha’s African American accomplishments, during our travels, we’ve learned about African-American history in our country.
Looking just at our region, we have learned about the impact of African Americans in baseball and education.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, MO, honors the accomplishments of the men who were denied chances to play baseball among their Caucasian counterparts due to segregation. The NLB struggled during its early days, but teams and players later enjoyed success. The Negro Leagues Baseball eventually faded following the success of Jackie Robinson’s integration into Major League Baseball. No. 42 overcame bigotry and led the way for more African Americans to play in the Majors. The last Negro Leagues Baseball teams closed shop in the early 1960s.
I’m looking forward to seeing the movie “42” when it hits theaters in April. 
In Topeka, KS, we visited the elementary school building that was one of the schools used in Brown vs. Board of Education. The 1954 US Supreme Court unanimous decision ended segregation in public schools in America. To see that a small school in the middle of the United States could play such a major role in changing American society and culture is amazing.
As February closes and Black History Month comes to an end, please recognize and appreciate the accomplishments and successes of all segments of our American society.
