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Proudly Serving Our Community for Over 80 Years Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 81 - No. 20 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, October 4, 2019
Statement of Secretary of State Bob Evnen Concerning the Appointment of Election Commissioners LINCOLN – Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson has issued an opinion that Nebraska statutes providing for the appointment by the Governor of election commissioners in Douglas, Sarpy and Lancaster counties, and appointment by county boards in certain other counties, is “constitutionally suspect.” Secretary of State Bob Evnen issued the following statement today concerning the Attorney General’s opinion: “I have the utmost respect for the Attorney General and his staff. As he noted in his opinion, the statute calling upon the Governor to appoint certain county election commissioners dates back to 1913 – more than 100 years ago. This and the election commissioner appointment statutes that followed have been the law of our State for more than a century. The Nebraska Supreme Court itself has decided at least one case in reliance on one of these statutes without a hint that the statute was unconstitutional. “There were sound policy reasons supporting the enactment of the appointment statutes. They remain the law unless and until they are overturned by our courts, or legislation is enacted that changes these statues. I am committed to following the law, and I intend to continue to observe these long-standing statutes as long as they are in place.”
Know the Signs!
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The Resurrection of Will Brown? By Preston Love Jr Last weekend, and in particular September 28 and 29, the nation and the Douglas County Community, made a valiant effort to bring focus to the life and death of Will Brown; or it should be said the horrific execution that ended his life - shot, hung, burned and even dragged through the downtown streets. A horrible death. After a hundred years, to the day, Will Brown‘s life and misery was Resurrected again before hundreds of people in front of the Douglas County Courthouse, the scene of his horrible demise 100 years earlier Over the last year, the Omaha Community Collation for Racial Justice and Reconciliation (OCCRJR), planned a ceremony on the steps of the courthouse which was well planned and well done. The council members were recognized, there was a huge crowd of people from throughout Nebraska; all races, all ethnicities, all denominations, and all were engaged. There were elected officials, and very important people, both in the audience and on the main stage. But the stars of the event were the masses who came to raise up the memory of Will Brown, together. There were comments by the Mayor, Chief of Police, Congressman Bacon, Douglas County Sheriff Captain Wayne Hudson, the
Another crowd gathers
Governor’s office and a fiery speech by Councilman Ben Gray. Not to mention the wonderful master of ceremonies, Brenda Council, and comments from the Chairman of the OCCRJR and President of the NAACP, Vickie Young. County Commissioner Chris Rogers headed up the committee that actually planned the ceremony. Dr. Cynthia Robinson, Chair of UNO’s Black Studies Dept., wowed the crowd with not only her presentation on Will Brown, but also aspects of racial injustice, bigotry and racism in such a compelling way. Special guests were two staff members from the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) located in Montgomery, Alabama, who See Brown continued on page 3
NCBW Luncheon to Honor Women Thriving and Breaking Barriers “Glass-Ceiling: an acknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting women and members of minorities” – according to the Oxford Dictionary. Although, the glass ceiling is real it isn’t stopping local women from thriving and breaking barriers. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc.’s annual Women of Color Leadership Conference and Legacy Awards Luncheon will recognize six local women who are doing just that. The honorees are: Dr. Cynthia Robinson (Education), Felicia Webster (Arts & Culture Heritage), Precious McKesson (Public Advocacy), BC Clark (Economic Empowerment), Melanie Finch McCroy (Health & Wellness), and Devin Owens (2019 Millennial Award). The awards luncheon will be held Oct. 17 at the Double Tree by Hilton, 1313 Dodge St. The day-long event’s morning speaker is Dannette Smith, Nebraska’s newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Alexa Canady, who in 1981 became the first African American female neurosurgeon in the U.S., will deliver the luncheon keynote address. KMTV 3 News Now morning reporter, Sydney Gray will serve as emcee. A discussion featuring Theola Cooper, OPD Northeast Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist, and Carmen Tapio, Founder & CEO of North End Teleservices, will conclude the day. Tickets are available at www.eventbrite. com/e/women-of-color-leadershipconference. For more information, email ncbwomaha@gmail.com.
Become Breast Cancer Aware – Oct. 12. See Religious Page.
Dr. Cynthia Robinson
Felicia Webster
Precious McKesson
BC Clark
Melanie Finch McCroy
Devin Owens
Soil collection
That Special Omaha Bond Lives On – You N.O.I.T.
Southern hospitality abounded over the weekend when approximately 200 former and current residents of Omaha gathered in Arlington, Texas to embrace our culture, remember our past and showoff our future – children and grandchildren – at the 10th Anniversary of Native Omahans In Texas (N.O.I.T.) celebration. The only thing greater than the love and joy that filled the air was the Texas heat. Well, and maybe the humidity. Who lives in a place where the temperature has cooled down to 90 degrees at 9 p.m.? However, neither heat, humidity, nor threats of rain could stay the partyready celebrants from their appointed rounds – Friday night Meet & Greet, Saturday Cook-out, tears-and-hugs filled Farewell Brunch on Sunday. “The 10 year anniversary was very successful and everyone appeared to have a great time. Everyone that I have talked to was very pleased with how everything turned out,” said this year’s coordinator Donna Steward who has lived in Arlington for 38 years. She added, the attendees traveled from California, Colorado, Georgia and Oklahoma, as well as Omaha and other parts of Texas. The hard work of Donna’s committee members was evident everywhere one looked. Kudos to committee members: Peggy Anderson, Steva Franklin, Robin Hemphill-Lockhart, Francine Howard, Terry Miller, Mareta Posey-Cowley, Buffy Ross, Delton Ross, and Lisa Tunstall German, photographer Jimmy White and DJ, Cedric Relford.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Abuse is not love!
Gospel Concert – Oct. 12. See In the Village.