Adam Fletcher Sasse

#OmahaBlackHistory Adam Fletcher Sasse

This book focuses on historical Black experiences in Omaha extending from 1804 to 2000. It offers hundreds of vignettes about the people, places, events, organizations, and other historical aspects that can give readers more complete picture of the city's history, and Midwestern American history in general. Offering a unique viewpoint on the effects of racism, readers can also get a better sense of Black freedom struggle in Omaha and the vital role played by African Americans in Omaha towards achieving justice and maintaining freedom. This book shows how Omaha owes it's Black citizens a debt of gratitude for centuries of literally building the city from the ground up. Featuring seven chapters covering quarter-century spans of the city's history, #OmahaBlackHistory dives deep into notable people from Omaha's African American community, including politicians, ministers, businesspeople, community leaders, and others. Many of these stories have been lost to time, unaccounted for in other history books and largely neglected by Omaha historians. Various events are identified and detailed, including fairs, festivals, and celebrations; lynchings, murders, and riots; and weddings, birthdays, and funerals. Forgotten yet important places are uncovered, and lost addresses are revealed. Perhaps most vital is the way the book illustrates the connectivity between all of these elements and several others, and how the rest of the city has reacted to white supremacy, racism, and other issues central to Black history in Omaha. This book is for people who are yearning for the real history of Omaha, Nebraska. It is not glossy, it does not cover general Omaha history, and it does not contextualize a lot of what happened in the nearly 200 years included. However, it offers a uniquely substantial viewpoint that isn't covered otherwise. Author Adam Fletcher Sasse is an independent historian whose other writing includes North Omaha History Volumes 1, 2, and 3; Drawing North Omaha; and more than 500 articles on NorthOmahaHistory.com.