North Omaha, Nebraska

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North Omaha is an area in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that is defined by its historical and modern neighborhoods, as well as its diverse racial and socio-economic composition. It is located just north of Omaha's downtown. The birthplace of Malcolm X, North Omaha has played a prominent role in African-American cultural, social, and economic history.

The area is predominately African-American. This has led to the title "North Omaha" denoting, by popular usage throughout the city, both the distinct geographic area within the city as well as the city's African American community in general.

Bordered by Dodge Street on the South; I-680 on the North; 72nd Street to the West; and East Omaha and Carter Lake, Iowa to the East,^[1] North Omaha is comprised of the following zip codes: 68102, 68104, 68110, 68111.

In 2006, North Omaha became the focus of national attention after North Omaha State Senator Ernie Chambers introduced an amendment that passed the Nebraska Legislature that would break up the Omaha school system into three systems which would de facto be divided along racial lines with African-Americans in North Omaha, whites in central Omaha, and Latinos/Hispanics in South Omaha.

Contents 1 Description 1.1 Neighborhoods 2 Demographics 3 Current events 3.1 Racism 4 Activities 4.1 Businesses 4.2 Community organizations 4.2.1 Housing 4.2.2 Children and youth 4.2.3 Community development 5 Culture 5.1 Economic development 5.2 Religious 5.3 Education 5.4 Healthcare 5.5 Political representation 5.6 Transportation 5.7 Annual events 5.8 Geology 6 History 6.1 North Omaha Timeline 6.2 Notable figures from North Omaha 6.3 Landmarks in North Omaha 6.4 Architecture in North Omaha 6.5 Civil rights movement in North Omaha 7 See also 8 References 9 Related publications 10 External links

[edit] Description

North Omaha defies definition as a neighborhood, as it is home to several distinct neighborhoods within its boundaries. At the same time, it defies definition as a community, as there are several distinct and disjunctured racial and socio-economic groupings within its boundaries. Therefore, North Omaha is best defined as a geographic region of the larger Omaha metropolitan area that has been uniquely identified by politicians, media, and mainstream society for more than a century.

[edit] Neighborhoods

North Omaha is home to many historic and rehabilitating neighborhoods. Distinct neighborhoods within North Omaha include Fontenelle Logan, Miller Park, Kellom, Fontenelle Boulevard, Conestoga Place, Minne Lusa,^[2] and Hilltop, as well as the historic communities of Florence and Saratoga.^[3][4] See "Demographics" for information about distinct racial and socio-economic communities within North Omaha.

Main article: Neighborhoods in North Omaha, Nebraska

[edit] Demographics

Statistics gathered from the US Census Bureau illustrate include:

Race	68102	68110	68111
White	3,477	3,432	6,457
Black	1,230	5,314	19,108
Hispanic	465	401	1,056
Asian	287	43	129
Other	435	551	1,236
Total	5,894	9,741	27,986

In percentages, North Omaha is 59% African-American, 29% White, 5% Hispanic and 7% other. In 2003, the African American population in Omaha was estimated at 52,273 or 13.1 percent of the city’s total estimated population of 397,713. That makes African Americans the largest minority group in Omaha, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

[edit] Current events

Current events in North Omaha illustrate a long legacy governmental, educational, and social programs which have shaped popular perception and molded community sentiment. This legacy may have its roots in the 1970s, when, according to one government agency,

Construction of the North Omaha Freeway coupled with social unrest in the 1970s greatly impacted the North Omaha area. One neighborhood experienced a 30 percent housing loss and major increase in crime.^[5]

This legacy continues today, as evidenced by recent concern about a controversial plan by local Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers to split Omaha Public Schools into three districts, including one carved out of North Omaha.^[6] Despite the following statistics that illustrate North Omaha's diverse racial composition, there is great concern that this plan would create de facto racial segregation within Omaha's schools. This plan has been approved by the Nebraska State Legislature, signed into law by the governor, and is currently making its way to the United States Supreme Court.

[edit] Racism

North Omaha is commonly viewed as as an alternately violent, poor, drug-riddled community^[7] where only low-income African American people live, including a recent report which states the area is purportedly "71 percent Black"^[8]. Despite the plethora of positive activities focused on improving North Omaha over the years, including those listed above, local media continuously focuses on racial and economic strife within the community.

Recent controversy has focused on a spoof aired by a local radio station in which a popular area radio DJ parodied a recent North Omaha tourism promotion campaign, reportedly saying on air, "Discover miles of mayhem, Discover drive-bys, Discover gang violence, Discover North Omaha."^[9] The City Council fought against this portrayal, with North Omaha city councilman Frank Brown demanding an apology from the radio station because "the spoof paints all residents of north Omaha as criminals."^[10]

Many institutions within the boundaries of North Omaha reinforce these perceptions as they seek to disassociate with the area despite their proximity within North Omaha. Such an example comes from an official Creighton University website which reports that housing in North Omaha is "...Older, smaller, more run-down... A little ways from shopping areas. It can be close to Creighton (5-10 minute drive). Many of these neighborhoods have a bad reputation and we recommend looking elsewhere for housing."^[11]

A precedent in the history of Omaha follows the same pattern of media and public institutions perpetuating popular misconceptions about African Americans. Unfortunately, in the past these situations have disintegrated into racist violence.

[edit] Activities

North Omaha is home to several institutions - private and public - which anchor the community.

[edit] Businesses

North Omaha is a sustaining community with business centers on North 16th, 24th, and 30th Streets; Ames Avenue, and in other pockets. The area is the home to numerous small, locally-owned, and independent businesses. It is also the site of numerous government programs designed to spur further economic growth. Some area enterprises include Leola's Records and Tapes, Jim's Rib Haven, Goodies Gas Station, Phil's Foodway, Al's Oasis, CBC Staffing, and Goodwin's Spencer Street Barber Shop. Goodwin's, located at 3116 N 24th Street since 1955, is one of 24th Street's few legacy businesses.^[12]

[edit] Community organizations

North Omaha has a range of important institutions that are working for a prosperous, educated, healthy, and sustainable community for all Omahans. Government, business,^[13] cultural, community, religious, and other institutions have all served to maintain and develop^[14] the area.

[edit] Housing

Path Concept Home is a project that concentrates on urban development in the residential area between 25th and Parker that is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The PCH plan will serve as a template for other development projects to follow, providing homes which are good for the consumer-friendly and the environmentally conscious. These homes are required to be sold to low-income and minority families. Other organizations providing housing in North Omaha include Holy Name Housing Corporation, Family Housing Advisory Services, Inc. and Rebuilding Together Omaha.

[edit] Children and youth

North Omaha offers a number of youth organizations and programs, including North Omaha B.E.A.R.S., a football club, the Hope Center, Hope Skate, an initiative of the Hope Center, Safe Haven Community Center, which is a youth center located at 2895 Binney Street^[15], the North Omaha Boys & Girls Club and Girl’s Inc.

[edit] Community development

Among the many community development programs are the historic Urban League of Nebraska^[16], the Charles Drew Health Center^[17], Heartland Family Services-FAST, New Community Development^[18] and the Benson-Ames Alliance Community Plan, which is community-driven planning process for neighborhood revitalization ^[19].

North Omaha suffered extensive environmental degradation due to the American Smelting and Refining Company, better known by the acronym "ASARCO". The windfall from their downtown Omaha plant has led the community, comprising more than 8,000 acres, to become a United States Environmental Protection Agency Superfund national priority site, and as of 2003, 290 acres had been cleaned^[20]. Today the community is the focus of the Lead Safe Omaha Coalition. The Coalition offers lead screenings and workshops on hazards of lead poisoning, safe home evaluations, lead-safe practices workshops, environmental certification training, HEPA vacuum rental, and the Information Resource Center on lead to residents through North Omaha ^[21].

[edit] Culture

North Omaha is home to a wide variety of cultural institutions, events and activities that anchor the community in a variety of ways.

Main article: Culture of North Omaha, Nebraska

[edit] Economic development

The Omaha Star has long been a source of employment and positive news for citizens in North Omaha. The North Omaha Development Project is a project of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce designed to "bring... business and community leaders together to find ways to positively impact the economic growth of the North Omaha community." It seeks to focuse on leveraging city, federal, and private sector funding to support public infrastructure and economic development. Project Map The North Omaha Business Park is located at 24th and Clark Streets, the business park is "a joint effort of the Omaha Chamber and the City of Omaha... [It is] a 15-acre development on the former Logan Fontenelle public housing site." It is home to several businesses including Wes & Willy’s, Cintas Corporation, Jobosh, Inc., and Amored Knights Company.^[22]

[edit] Religious

North Omaha has a variety of religious programs and faith communities. They include Pearl Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 24th and Ogden Ave, which provides a variety of outreach projects to the Miller Park community, as well as Wesley House.

[edit] Education

Important education institutions in North Omaha include Creighton University, Metropolitan Community College (Omaha) located at Fort Omaha, Omaha North High School and the Charles B. Washington Branch of the Omaha Public Library, located at 2868 AmesAvenue^[23].

[edit] Healthcare

North Omaha is home to several important medical institutions. They include St. Joseph's Hospital, Immanuel Medical Center and the Creighton University Medical Center. The Charles Drew Health Center provides a variety of services to low-income community members, as well^[24].

[edit] Political representation

North Omaha is represented on the Omaha City Council by Frank Brown, District 2^[25], and Jim Suttle, who is the city councilmember from District 1. Lowen Kruse is a state senator for Nebraska's 13th Legislative District, representing far North Omaha. Ernie Chambers is the state senator for Nebraka's 11th Legislative District representing near North Omaha. Lee Terry, a Republican, represents all of Omaha, including North Omaha, as part of Nebraska's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ben Nelson, a Democrat, is the incumbent junior Senator from Nebraska, including North Omaha. Chuck Hagel, a Republican, is the senior United States Senator from Nebraska, including North Omaha. The current Governor of Nebraska is Dave Heineman, a Republican.

[edit] Transportation

North Omaha has several main arterials. Several streets in the area are named after locally, regionally, and nationally important individuals^[26] One of the main thoroughfares is North 24th Street, which, from Cuming Street on the south to Reed Street on the north, is commonly thought to represent North Omaha's greatest historical legacy and hope for the future. North 24th was addressed as Omaha's "Street of Dreams" because of the prosperity and hope it embodied for its early African American, Eastern European and Jewish residents.

Florence Boulevard, once called "The Most Prettiest Mile", runs from downtown Omaha northwards, almost intersecting with John J. Pershing Drive. In its northern segment the boulevard is home to several small mansions, and at one time was regarded for connecting Miller Park with the rest of Omaha's park system.^[27] It is named after the Florence neighborhood. Another one of the city's once-regarded boulevards is Fontenelle Boulevard, called Boulevard Avenue before 1910. running from Fontenelle Park northward towards the Florence community. Fontenelle was named after Logan Fontenelle, a "last great chief" of the Omaha Tribe. It was once called Omaha's "Most Beautiful Mile". Locust Street is one of North Omaha's direct arterials into Carter Lake, Iowa.

Several North Omaha traffic ways are named after military interests. They include Military Avenue, which is a historic road first laid out in 1854 by the US military. It starts in North Omaha just off Hamilton at N. 45th Street. John A. Creighton Boulevard was named after the brother of Edward Creighton, and General John J. Pershing Drive was named after a successful WW I U.S. Army leader, and flows from East Omaha north by Florence, by the historic site of Fort Lisa and towards Blair. Similarly, Sherman Avenue, also known as North 16th Street, was named after the commander general of the U.S. Army in charge of the Indian Wars. Fort Street between North 30th and North 24th is so-named for Fort Omaha.

Sorenson Parkway, a modern contribution to the historic park boulevard system, was named after an Omaha mayor. It was built along an abandoned railroad bed and runs from North 72nd Street to North 30th Street, which is the historic Main Street of Florence. U.S. Highway 75 is a historic highway flowing along North 30th Street to become the North Expressway. This stretch of the highway was the source of much contention in when it was constructed in the 1970s and 80s. As a Nebraska state agency reports, "Construction of the North Omaha Freeway, coupled with social unrest in the 1970s, greatly impacted the North Omaha area. One neighborhood experienced a 30 percent housing loss and major increase in crime."^[28] Interstate 680 is the north bypass freeway that is a boundary for North Omaha. The Mormon Bridge is located on this stretch.

Other important streets in the area include Lake Street, Ames Avenue, Cuming Street, State Street, Abbott Drive and North 20th Avenue.

[edit] Annual events

North Omaha is home to several important annual events that help define and celebrate the community, its history, and its future. Native Omaha Days is a biennial North Omaha cultural tradition, reuniting members of the city's African American community. The Days are commemorated with a variety of events, including the Evergreen Reunion, named after a town in Alabama that many families in the area trace their roots to.^[29] Other annual activities include the Juneteenth Parade, the Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow, Omaha Blues, Jazz, & Gospel Festival^[30], Florence Days, and the Omaha North High School Homecoming, including a parade for the community. The Stone Soul Picnic is also an important event.

[edit] Geology

The historic founding, development and current identification of North Omaha is bound to its geography. Located next to the Missouri River and Carter Lake (lake), North Omaha includes several streams, small lakes, cliffs, and artisian springs. One historic report identifies a sulphur spring at the "foot of Spencer Street", with another at the "foot of Grand Avenue". The foot is presumed to be where 16th Street meets Commercial Avenue.^[31]

[edit] History

North Omaha has a recorded history extending to 1806 with the founding of Fort Lisa, where Sacagawea may have died in 1812. It includes the settlement of Cutler's Park in 1846, lynchings around the turn of the century, the thriving 24th Street community of the 1920s, the bustling development of the African American community through the 1950s, and a series of riots in the 1960s.

Main article: History of North Omaha, Nebraska

[edit] North Omaha Timeline

Significant events in the history of North Omaha include the Pawnee, Otoe and Sioux nations. With a history of European settlement starting in 1806; the growth of the African American community from the 1860s; Irish, Czech, and other European immigrants through the 1940s, and; several other populations up to the present. Several important settlements and towns were built in the area, in addition to important social events that shaped the future of Omaha and the history of the nation.

Main article: Timeline of North Omaha, Nebraska history

[edit] Notable figures from North Omaha

North Omaha has been the birthplace and home of many figures of national and local import. They include Malcolm X, Whitney Young, an important civil rights leader, the storied Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers, actor John Beasley, and author Tillie Olsen. Singer Wynonie Harris, saxaphonist Preston Love and Buddy Miles all have called North Omaha home. Businesswoman Cathy Hughes is from North Omaha. The community has also several birthed several sports stars, including baseball player Bob Gibson, football player Johnny Rodgers,", actress Gabrielle Union, actor John Beasley, Greenbay Packers starting running back Ahman Green, and basketball player Bob Boozer.

Main article: People from North Omaha

[edit] Landmarks in North Omaha

Due to its exceptionally diverse history, particularly in respect to the rest of Nebraska, North Omaha is home to a spectacular number of historical and modern landmarks. This is evidenced by the sheer number of Registered Historic Places within its boundaries.

Main article: Landmarks in North Omaha, Nebraska

[edit] Architecture in North Omaha

Houses build in Queen Anne, Arts and Crafts, Romanesque and Classical Revival styles in the late 1800s and early 1900s occupy several neighborhoods throughout Omaha. Greek Revival commercial buildings and a Spanish Renaissance Revival church represent the reverence many architects held for history; the Plains style and work by Thomas Rogers Kimball represent a more progressive perspective. The area is also home to many modern developments, as well.

Main article: Architecture in North Omaha, Nebraska

[edit] Civil rights movement in North Omaha

The civil rights movement in North Omaha goes back to at least 1912, when the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Omaha chapter was founded, and in 1928, when the first Urban League chapter in the western United States was started in North Omaha. Both of these organizations continue today. Student and youth activism in North Omaha led to the creation of two unique groups: Creighton University's DePorres Club, started in 1947, and the Black Association for Nationalism Through Unity (BANTU), popular throughout the 1960s. In the summer of 1963 the Citizens Civic Committee for Civil Liberties rallied together to demand change equal rights for all African Americans throughout Omaha^[32]. While the Omaha civil rights movement did not gain its popularly stated goals of gaining a law from the Nebraska State Legislature ensuring equal housing opportunities or a separate law ensuring equal job opportunities, it is seen as successful for raising awareness of the inequities facing African Americans in Omaha.^[33] From the film A Time for Burning to Senator Ernie Chambers' recent legislative action, the civil rights movement has a significant legacy in Omaha.

Main article: Civil Rights Movement in Omaha, Nebraska

[edit] See also

• List of articles related to North Omaha, Nebraska
• List of people from North Omaha, Nebraska
• List of landmarks in North Omaha, Nebraska

[edit] References

[edit] Related publications

• Alexander, C. (1981) Rebirth of the Inner City: The North Omaha Plan. Center for Environmental Structure.
• (1992) The North Omaha Renaissance 2000 Plan. Ciaccio Dennell Group Inc. - A community-based and locally initiated plan that provided initial analysis and visions for the redevelopment of Northeast Omaha.
• (2004) Housing Study: Omaha Housing Authority—Population & Housing Demand Profile. - The Omaha Housing Authority plays an important role in Northeast Omaha. This OHA study projected housing trends in north Omaha. (The North Omaha Population and Housing Demand statistics can be found in the Appendix.)
• (n.d.) Multiethnic Guide. Greater Omaha Economic Partnership.

[edit] External links

• eOmahaForums discussion about North Omaha housing
• Fast Facts about Omaha's African American community
• Discover North Omaha website
• North Omaha Development Project
• Loves Jazz and Art Center - A new North Omaha mecca
• NorthOmaha.Com
• Miller Park/Minne Lusa Neighborhood Association
• The Omaha Star website
• Discover Black Omaha website
• North Omaha - A photoset on Flickr
• Empower Omaha Empowerment Network