Omaha Star
Encyclopedia
The Omaha Star is a newspaper founded in 1938 in North Omaha, Nebraska
by Mildred Brown
and her husband S. Edward Gilbert. Housed in the historic Omaha Star building
in the Near North Side neighborhood
, today the Omaha Star is the only remaining African-American newspaper
in Omaha and the only one still printed in Nebraska. It may be the only newspaper in the United States started by an African American woman.
. Celebrating positive African-American families, role models and accomplishments, the Star quickly became a pillar of the North Omaha community. By 1945 it was the only black newspaper remaining in Omaha, the state's largest city.
In the 1950s the Omaha Star won national respect by reporting the Omaha African-American community's perspectives on local and national news. Readers were encouraged to vote and run for office. The DePorres Club
, an early youth-led
Omaha-based civil rights group
founded in 1947, met at the offices of the Omaha Star in the early 1950s after Creighton University
kicked them off campus. As publisher, Brown used pressure to persuade advertisers to accept blacks in more positions. Her coverage of civil rights and riots in the 1960s earned her commendations from President Lyndon Johnson.
After Brown died in 1989, her niece, Marguerita Washington, took leadership. The paper continues today.
legend Preston Love
worked as an advertising
specialist for the Star before his death.
In spring 2006 the paper's building was designated an Omaha Landmark by the City of Omaha
. In January 2007, the Omaha City Council
awarded a community development grant to the Omaha Star for remodeling purposes. The Star building is located in the North Omaha Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area and the North 24th Street Business District. Marguerita Washington, the owner and publisher, announced a partnership with Metropolitan Community College
to create a memorial adjacent to the Star office to honor Washington's aunt and Star founder Mildred Brown. Metro students will begin landscaping on the "Mildred Brown Strolling Park" this spring.
The Omaha Star is a member of the National Newspapers Publishers Association
.
North Omaha, Nebraska
North Omaha is a community area in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. It is bordered by Cuming and Dodge Streets on the south, Interstate 680 on the north, North 72nd Street on the west and the Missouri River and Carter Lake, Iowa on the east, as defined by the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Omaha...
by Mildred Brown
Mildred Brown
Mildred Brown was an African American journalist, newspaper publisher, and leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Omaha, Nebraska. Part of the Great Migration, she came from Alabama via Chicago and Des Moines, Iowa...
and her husband S. Edward Gilbert. Housed in the historic Omaha Star building
Omaha Star building
The Omaha Star building is located at 2216 North 24th Street in North Omaha, Nebraska. As the site of publication of the Omaha Star since 1938, the building is notable for its long service to Omaha's African-American community and its connections to the civil rights movement in the city...
in the Near North Side neighborhood
Near North Side (Omaha, Nebraska)
The Near North Side of Omaha, Nebraska is the neighborhood immediately north of downtown. It forms the nucleus of the city's African-American community, and its name is often synonymous with the entire North Omaha area...
, today the Omaha Star is the only remaining African-American newspaper
African American newspapers
African American newspapers are those newspapers in the United States that seek readers primarily of African American descent. These newspapers came into existence in 1827 when Samuel Cornish and John Brown Russwurm started the first African-American periodical called Freedom's Journal...
in Omaha and the only one still printed in Nebraska. It may be the only newspaper in the United States started by an African American woman.
History
The first issue of the Omaha Star was published on July 9, 1938 at their offices at 2216 N. 24th Street in North Omaha. Five thousand copies were printed and sold for ten cents each. With the banner "Joy and Happiness", the Star featured positive news about the black community in North Omaha, NebraskaNorth Omaha, Nebraska
North Omaha is a community area in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. It is bordered by Cuming and Dodge Streets on the south, Interstate 680 on the north, North 72nd Street on the west and the Missouri River and Carter Lake, Iowa on the east, as defined by the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Omaha...
. Celebrating positive African-American families, role models and accomplishments, the Star quickly became a pillar of the North Omaha community. By 1945 it was the only black newspaper remaining in Omaha, the state's largest city.
In the 1950s the Omaha Star won national respect by reporting the Omaha African-American community's perspectives on local and national news. Readers were encouraged to vote and run for office. The DePorres Club
DePorres Club
The DePorres Club was an early pioneer organization in the Civil Rights Movement in Omaha, Nebraska, whose "goals and tactics foreshadowed the efforts of civil rights activists throughout the nation in the 1960s." The club was an affiliate of CORE.-History:...
, an early youth-led
Youth activism
Youth activism is when the youth voice is engaged in community organizing for social change. Around the world, young people are engaged in activism as planners, researchers, teachers, evaluators, social workers, decision-makers, advocates and leading actors in the environmental movement, social...
Omaha-based civil rights group
Civil rights movement in Omaha, Nebraska
The Civil rights movement in Omaha, Nebraska has roots that extend back until at least 1912. With a history of racial tension that starts before the founding of the city, Omaha has been the home of numerous overt efforts related to securing civil rights for African Americans since at least the...
founded in 1947, met at the offices of the Omaha Star in the early 1950s after Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
kicked them off campus. As publisher, Brown used pressure to persuade advertisers to accept blacks in more positions. Her coverage of civil rights and riots in the 1960s earned her commendations from President Lyndon Johnson.
After Brown died in 1989, her niece, Marguerita Washington, took leadership. The paper continues today.
Present
Today the Stars circulation is approximately 30,000 and is distributed to 48 states. A 2001 survey found each copy of the paper is read six times before being discarded. In its 66-year history, The Omaha Star has never missed an edition. Omaha jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
legend Preston Love
Preston Love
Preston Haines Love was a renowned alto saxophonist, bandleader and songwriter from Omaha, Nebraska.-Biography:Preston Love grew up in North Omaha and graduated from North High....
worked as an advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
specialist for the Star before his death.
In spring 2006 the paper's building was designated an Omaha Landmark by the City of Omaha
Government of Omaha
The government of the City of Omaha, Nebraska consists of the Mayor of Omaha, the Omaha City Council and various departments of the City of Omaha, which in located in Douglas County, Nebraska. The city of Omaha was founded in 1854 and incorporated in 1857....
. In January 2007, the Omaha City Council
Omaha City Council
The City Council of Omaha, Nebraska is elected every four years on a nonpartisan basis. The next election will occur in 2009. Omaha has a strong mayor form of government. Members are elected by district...
awarded a community development grant to the Omaha Star for remodeling purposes. The Star building is located in the North Omaha Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area and the North 24th Street Business District. Marguerita Washington, the owner and publisher, announced a partnership with Metropolitan Community College
Metropolitan Community College (Omaha)
Metropolitan Community College is a public community college with multiple campuses located throughout the Omaha, Nebraska metro area.- About :...
to create a memorial adjacent to the Star office to honor Washington's aunt and Star founder Mildred Brown. Metro students will begin landscaping on the "Mildred Brown Strolling Park" this spring.
Honors and recognition
- 1996 - The Star was inducted into the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame
- Received the Golden Spike Award presented by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Established in 1979, the award recognizes businesses that have made outstanding contributions to the Omaha economy.
- Marguerita Washington has founded the non-profit Mildred D. Brown Study Center in honor of her aunt, for scholarships for journalism students. It will be located at the Omaha Star building.
The Omaha Star is a member of the National Newspapers Publishers Association
National Newspapers Publishers Association
The National Newspaper Publishers Association , was founded in 1940 when John H. Sengstacke of the Chicago Defender organized a meeting with other African American publishers designed for "harmonizing our energies in a common purpose for the benefit of Negro journalism." The group decided to form...
.
- In 2008 the Omaha Star buildingOmaha Star buildingThe Omaha Star building is located at 2216 North 24th Street in North Omaha, Nebraska. As the site of publication of the Omaha Star since 1938, the building is notable for its long service to Omaha's African-American community and its connections to the civil rights movement in the city...
was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
for its important association with the civil rights movement.
See also
- History of North Omaha, NebraskaHistory of North Omaha, NebraskaThe history of North Omaha, Nebraska includes wildcat banks, ethnic enclaves, race riots and social change spanning over 200 years. With a recorded history that pre-dates the rest of the city, North Omaha has roots back to 1812 with the founding of Fort Lisa...
- List of newspapers in the United States
External links
- Omaha Star Website.
- 1953 editorial about Omaha school segregation, Omaha Star.