African Americans in Omaha, Nebraska - African Americans From Omaha

African Americans From Omaha

Further information: People from North Omaha, Nebraska
“ Being born in Omaha doesn't make me an American any more than being born in an oven makes a cat a biscuit. – Malcolm X ”
Notable African Americans from Omaha (Alphabetical)
Name Image Role Era
Lester Abrams Funk musician 1970s
Houston Alexander Extreme fighter, hip hop artist and radio DJ 1980s-present
John Beasley Television and film actor 1980s-present
Bob Boozer Former National Basketball Association player, gold medalist at the 1960 Summer Olympics 1950s–1960s
Frank Brown (politician) City of Omaha City councilmember 1970s-present
Mildred Brown Founder, Omaha Star newspaper 1930s–1980s
Willy Brown Local worker lynched by white mob 1919
Bertha Calloway Founder of the Great Plains Black History Museum 1960s–1990s
Ernie Chambers Longest-serving Nebraska State Senator in history 1960s-present
Brenda Council City of Omaha councilmember, school board member 1970s-present
Alfonza W. Davis Captain in the Tuskegee Airmen, first black military aviator from Omaha to receive his wings from Tuskegee Field 1940s
Bob Gibson National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher for St. Louis Cardinals
Ahman Green Professional football player 1990s-first decade of the 21st century
Wynonie Harris Rhythm & Blues singer 1960s-present
Harry Haywood High profile international Communist Party leader 1940s–1970s
Cathy Hughes Founder and president of Radio One 1970s-present
Lloyd Hunter Big band leader 1920s–1950s
Kenton Keith Professional football player
Preston Love Jazz player 1950s–1990s
Lois "Lady Mac" McMorris Guitarist 1970s-present
Buddy Miles Musician 1960s–1990s
Rowena Moore Labor activist in meatpacking industry. Also Founder of the Malcolm X House Site 1940s for union. 1970s–1980s as civic activist
Sandra Organ Longtime Houston Ballet soloist 1980s-present
George Wells Parker Co-founder of the Hamitic League of the World 1910s–1930s
Ron Prince Head football coach at Kansas State University 1980s-first decade of the 21st century
Dr. Matthew Ricketts First African American elected to the Nebraska State Legislature in 1892. 1880s–1900
Joe Rogers Colorado Lieutenant Governor, 1999–2003 (R) 1990s
Johnny Rodgers 1972 Heisman Trophy Winner, College Football Hall of Fame Inductee and voted University of Nebraska's "player of the century" 1960s–1980
Gale Sayers Professional football player, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee 1960s
Gabrielle Union Television and film actress 1990s-first decade of the 21st century
Luigi Waites Musician 1960s-present
Clarence W. Wigington Architect 1910s–1950
Big Joe Williams Musician
Anna Mae Winburn Big band leader 1930s–1960
Helen Jones Woods, Big band trombonist 1930s–1960
Malcolm X Civil rights leader (grew up elsewhere) 1930s–1960s
Whitney Young Former head of Omaha Urban League 1930s–1960s
Herman Cain Former CEO of Godfather's Pizza (1986–88), Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Omaha Branch (1989–91), depty Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (1992–94), Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (1995–96), and was among the Republican Party presidential candidates, 2012 1980s-1990s

First African-American to enter and win a title in the Miss America Pageant. The year 1969

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Famous quotes containing the words african, americans and/or omaha:

    “A tanned skin is something more than respectable, and perhaps olive is a fitter color than white for a man,—a denizen of the woods. “The pale white man!” I do not wonder that the African pitied him.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    “... all Americans are the prisoners of racial prejudice.”
    —Shirley Chisholm (b. 1924)

    “The first dead man on Omaha Beach must be a sailor!”
    —Paddy Chayefsky (1923–1981)