In the mid-20th century, when North Omahapulsed with the sound of live jazz pouring from clubs along 24th Street, a young saxophonist named Preston Love Sr. was developing the tone and tenacity that would carry him far beyond Nebraska.

Zanzye H.A. Hill made history in 1929 as the first African American woman admitted to practice law in Nebraska, marking a milestone in the state’s legal history during an era defined by racial and gender exclusion. Although admitted to the Nebraska bar, records from the Office of the Supreme Court Clerk indicate that Hill did not actively practice law in the state.

The Black Student Leadership Council’s Ninth Annual Black History & Heritage Showcase delivered an unforgettable evening of culture, education, and excellence at Omaha Burke High School last night.

Johnny Steven Rodgers (born July 5, 1951) remains one of the most electrifying players in college football history, a homegrown Omaha talent whose speed, precision, and instinct helped define an era of Nebraska dominance.

Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade (born October 29, 1972) is an award-winning actress, bestselling author, and outspoken advocate whose career has spanned more than three decades in film and television. Born in Omaha, Union’s journey from the Midwest to Hollywood reflects both talent and tenacity. 

Born in Omaha on November 24, 1956, Terry Lewis helped shape the sound of modern R&B and pop music for more than four decades. As one half of the legendary songwriting and production duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, he has influenced generations of artists and defined eras of American music.

When Brenda Smith joined the Omaha Police Department in 1980, she stepped into history. She became the first African American female police officer in Nebraska, entering a profession where few women, and no Black women in the state, had served before her.

In an effort to increase visibility, volunteerism, and charitable investment, SHARE Omaha has curated and elevated a list of more than 30 Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofits serving the Omaha metro.

Reverend Livingston Wills (1916–2008) spent more than six decades walking the streets of Omaha, a bundle of brooms across his shoulders, dressed in a suit and brimmed hat, becoming one of the city’s most recognizable and enduring figures. Blind from birth, Wills navigated downtown and surrounding neighborhoods independently, memorizing routes and storefronts long before modern accessibility protections were in place.

Linda Brown (February 20, 1943 – March 25, 2018) made history in 1987 when she became the first African American female firefighter in the Omaha Fire Department, breaking barriers in a profession long dominated by men and white men in particular.

Gale Eugene Sayers (May 30, 1943 – September 23, 2020) was one of the most electrifying players in professional football history, a generational talent whose speed, vision, and agility redefined what was possible on the field. Though born in Wichita, Kansas, Sayers was raised in Omaha, Nebraska, where his athletic gifts first took shape and where his legacy remains deeply rooted. 

Marcia Carol Martin Anderson (born 1957) made history in 2011 when she became the first African American woman promoted to the rank of major general in the United States Army Reserve, a milestone that expanded representation at the highest levels of military leadership.

Elizabeth Davis Pittman (June 3, 1921 – April 8, 1998) broke barriers across Nebraska’s legal and civic landscape, becoming the first African American woman judge in the state and a pioneering force in Omaha’s public life. 

Marlin Oliver Briscoe (September 10, 1945 – June 27, 2022), nicknamed “the Magician,” holds a permanent place in professional football history. In 1968, he became the first Black starting quarterback in the modern era of the American Football League (AFL), a breakthrough that challenged long-standing racial barriers at one of the sports most scrutinized positions.

Bertha Calloway devoted her life to preserving and sharing the rich history of African Americans in Nebraska. She was born in Denver, Colo., and moved to Omaha in 1946 at the age of 21. Her early experiences shaped a lifelong passion for community activism, historical research, and education.

Brenda J. Council’s public life reflects the complexity of leadership, representation, and the expectations placed on those who break barriers. Born in 1955 and raised in North Omaha, Council emerged from a community long shaped by activism, advocacy, and hard conversations about equity and justice. Her path into public service was built in education, law, and an unwavering belief that systems could be challenged and reshaped from within.

Robert “Bob” Ball Anderson’s life tells a powerful American story of survival, service, and an unyielding pursuit of freedom through land ownership. Born into slavery on March 1, 1843, Anderson came of age in a nation divided. During the U.S. Civil War, he served in the Union Army, fighting for a freedom he would later claim in his own way: by owning land.

Rudy Smith dedicated his life to making Black Omaha visible, honestly, fully, and with dignity. 

Born on January 6, 1945, Smith became a trailblazer in journalism and photography, using his lens to document everyday life while bearing witness to moments of struggle, resilience, and change.

Cathy Hughes’ story is one of vision, grit, and audacity, a testament to how Black women have not only shaped American media, but have worked intentionally to expand who is seen, heard, and valued within it. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Hughes would go on to build one of the largest and influential Black-owned media companies in the nation, expanding representation and amplifying voices across the airwaves.

John Ewing Jr.’s election as Mayor of Omaha in 2025 marked a historic milestone in the city’s story of civic leadership, In the May 13, 2025 general election, Ewing defeated incumbent Republican mayor Jean Stothert, becoming the first African American elected mayor of Omaha and the first Democrat to hold the office since 2009.