75 CENTS
OMAHA STAR
THE
Celebrating 80 Years
1938 2018
Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed
Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 81 - No. 10 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, May 17, 2019
The Blues of Knowing Why – 50 Years after the Murder of Vivian Strong By Stephanie Kidd
Fourteen-year-old Vivian Strong only wanted to listen to records with her friends. She wanted to dance and have fun. So she and a handful of kids took a record player into an empty apartment in their building and had a dance party on June 24, 1969. They played records and danced. They didn’t drink. They didn’t do drugs. They simply played records. But when Omaha Police Officer James Loder broke up the party after someone reportedly called in an attempted robbery, Vivian ran out the door of the vacant apartment in the Logan Fontenelle Housing Projects. And Officer Loder shot her in the back of the head. Vivian died nearly instantly. Officer Loder reportedly did not say Vivian Strong anything before shooting. According to witnesses, he shot at Vivian as she ran towards the back of the apartment. Loder was released from jail on $500 bond and suspended from the police department for 15 days. He was later found innocent of all charges. It’s been nearly 50 years since 14-year-old Vivian Strong was killed by a white police officer in North Omaha, and later this month The Union for Contemporary Art and the Great Plains Theatre Conference will present “The Blues of Knowing Why,” a play that documents her short life and untimely death. Lincoln high school teacher and playwright Christopher Maly researched Vivian’s life and death to write the play because he said we are at “an opportune moment in history to remember her story. So little is known about her, and it’s important to humanize her and her great loss.” Maly said he learned about Vivian’s story from a friend, and was led to investigate her initially “as a teacher.” Inspired by stories like Trayvon Martin and platforms like the Black Lives Matter Movement, Maly
See The Blues of Knowing Why continued on page 9
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH 75 cents
New Position Brings Life of Omaha Star Newly Appointed Interim Publisher Full Circle As I accept the challenge of serving as Interim Publisher/Editor of the Omaha Star newspaper, I am excited about the opportunity to continue the work of the three women who served tirelessly in the publisher position. Mildred Frankie Jean Williams D. Brown founded the paper in 1938 and was a driving force of change in the north Omaha community until her death in 1989. Her niece, Dr. Marguerita Washington, had other plans for her retirement, but she stepped up to the plate in 1989, took the reins and served as publisher until her passing in 2016. Phyllis Hicks, who had retired twice before coming to work for the Star, honored Marguerita’s wishes and assumed the publisher position, working to move it forward. As most of you know, due to health issues, Phyllis has moved to Las Vegas to be with her son and his family. I am a Native Omahan who has spent my career working in the youth-serving arena. I worked in corporate America for a brief stint. However, I knew that my calling was to work in positions where I could make decisions and commitments that would have a direct impact on the lives of people in my community. There are people who live their lives out loud. Everyone knows who they are, what they do and who they do it for. Although I have come to learn, if you don’t tell your story, folks won’t know; that’s not who I am. I like to work in the background, allowing the spotlight to shine on the people who diligently labor to make my visions realities. But I am going to step out of character and drop a few names here. While working as Outreach Manager for the Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia, I
was privileged to have “an audience” with Coca Cola foundation’s Olguita Casteleiro Goizueta, whereby I asked for a $500,000 grant to fund an Hispanic initiative in Atlanta. (Everyone cautioned me not to ask because the foundation did not fund youth programs). I have had meetings and worked on projects with Coca Cola foundation’s Chair, Ingrid Saunders Jones, Spelman College President Johnetta Cole, Atlanta business mogul H.J. Russell (now deceased), Department of Labor Women’s Bureau Director Alexis Herman and Arthur Blank, to name a few. And even if they don’t remember me, I remember what I learned from each of them. Oh, and by the way, Goizueta funded my Hispanic initiative at $750,000. Prior to moving to Atlanta, I worked for the Great Plains Girl Scout Council, serving as Program Manager for Older Girl Programs, Outreach Manager, and Director of Membership Services. I also worked as Program Director for Family Services’ Ruth K. Solomon Girls Center. Before beginning my youth services management career, I worked for the State of Nebraska Health and Human Services as an ADC caseworker. While attending UNO, I worked at United Methodist Community Center’s Wesley House under the leadership of Dr. Rodney Wead. There I had the opportunity to work on a community tabloid, Black Realities, with the late Jim Grigsby, Michael Maroney and the late David Rice (Mondo). But my very first job, as a sophomore in high school, was at the Omaha Star Newspaper working with the illustrious Mildred D. Brown. One of my most vivid memories of Ms. Brown was on the evening of my 18th birthday. It was a Thursday and I was working late because we prepared the papers for mailing, there in the office. I had a birthday date who was going to pick me up from the Star after we completed our mailing task. We were waiting for Bennie Johnson, who was the photographer/Ms. Brown’s driver/paper deliverer, to bring the freshly
printed papers. Bennie came running into the office yelling, “Stop the presses!” We all began laughing at what we thought was an inside joke since no printing press was to be found on the premises. But we looked at his face and there was no laughter upon it, not even a smile. I hesitantly asked why the look of gloom and doom. He lowered his head and shouted, “They killed Dr. King.” Ms. Brown came running from her office/ apartment in the back and joined us in what seemed like an eternity of eerie silence. First it was muffled sniffles, then tears began streaming slowly down our faces, then tears soaked our clothing, and before we could compose ourselves the anger came. That night, without invitation, ministers from our community made their way, one by heartbroken one, to the Omaha Star. My date came and we joined the mournful group as they sat around Ms. Brown’s dining room table and talked, giving us a Black history lesson never to be forgotten. On Thursday, April 4, 1968, at the age of 18, I came to understand exactly what Mildred D. Brown and the Omaha Star meant to our community. What I didn’t understand was the opportunity I walked away from when Ms. Brown asked me to continue working at the Star so she could mentor and groom me for her position. Sometimes you have to walk away to understand the significance of an opportunity. Now that I have come full circle there are some things I know. Number one, it is an awesome opportunity to be part of a movement to elevate the Omaha Star to the next level. Number two, Mildred told about 50 other young people she wanted to groom them to be publisher. Well Mildred, 51 years later, this one is here. I hope I do you proud as I work with the Mildred D. Brown Memorial Study Center Board of Directors to bring our vision to fruition. I thank the readers of the Omaha Star and ask for your continued support as we venture forward. We are open to your input and suggestions as we strive to be the Voice of the Black Community.
OPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Logan Reflects on Her First Year in the Role Students all around the city are anxious to of education. It is so important that the board, hear the dismissal bell ring on the last day of superintendent and the staff work well together school. For OPS, that date also marks the close of and share a common vision and common goals. As Superintendent Dr. Cheryl a first-time superintendent, Logan’s first year leading I’ve learned quite a bit the largest school district about how to work with a in the state. It’s been a year board. I’m also very proud of firsts for OPS. It’s the of the relationships I’ve first time in the district’s established with students, nearly 160-year history teachers, school leaders and that an African American parents. Building a base of has held the top spot. It’s support is important. Many also the first time a female people have welcomed has occupied the role, and me into their “world” and Logan’s first time leading shared with me things that an entire school district. have been very helpful as I With 30 years of experience began my journey here. as an educator, she came to I’d also be remiss if I the district from a previous didn’t mention walking into role as a Chief Academic First Student Town Hall schools and having students Officer and Assistant Superintendent for the recognize me as their Superintendent and be School District of Philadelphia. excited to see me there. That’s an accomplishment. Below is a question and answer reflection That’s nirvana for a Superintendent. segment with Dr. Logan to share some of the Q. What’s been your best or most memorable challenges she’s faced this past school year, experience thus far as superintendent? dispel some misperceptions about the role and A. The excitement on the faces of young offer a glimpse into what the city can expect women I’ve had the pleasure to meet inspires during her second year serving the students, staff me. Teaching and education in general is femaleand families who comprise the Omaha Public dominated. However, top-level leadership is Schools. typically overwhelmingly male. It feels good to Q. You’ve completed your first school year know that not only are women proud to see me as a Superintendent. What would you say has in the role—the superintendent of a major school been your most noteworthy accomplishment? district—they see themselves in me. My hope is A. I count many things as accomplishments that they are thinking, “I can do that too!” this year. One of them would be building a Q. What accomplishments have you positive and open relationship with the board witnessed amongst your leadership team that
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make you most proud? A. The team has spent the school year adjusting to an entirely new leadership style. It makes me proud that there is a team understanding that we’re all committed to doing the right things, even if those things place us on the more difficult path, the path least traveled. I see the group in its entirety as servant leaders. They’re serving the children and families of the district, not themselves. Q. What has been your biggest surprise about the community and the school district? A. I’ve visited school districts around the country, and I’ve been most surprised to observe that we do not have as much pride as we should. There is work to be done, yes, but we Summer Reading Kickoff already have a lot to be proud of. And, there are numerous areas we should be proud about. When you look at the correlation between poverty and graduation rates, we exceed the marks. When you look at the amount of community support we have, there is tremendous support. People are willing to invest in the success of our schools. We were able to garner the community support needed to pass two bonds to renovate our schools, and to build new schools to accommodate a growing student population. People are willing to take a Summer Reading Kickoff political stand on behalf of See Dr. Logan continued on page 7
Salute to Graduates issue will be published June 28. Send photos of high school and college grads to fwilliams@omahastarinc.com. Include grad’s name and school.
African American Leadership Awards – May 31. See ad on page 6 for details.
