Omaha Star facts for kids
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| Type | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Founded | July 9, 1938 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | North Omaha |
| Circulation | 30,000 |
The Omaha Star is a special newspaper. It was started in 1938 in North Omaha, Nebraska. A brave woman named Mildred Brown and her husband, S. Edward Gilbert, created it. The newspaper is still printed today in its historic Omaha Star building. It is the only African-American newspaper left in Omaha. It is also the only one still printed in Nebraska. Some people believe it's the only newspaper in the U.S. ever started by an African-American woman.
The Star's Early Days
The very first Omaha Star newspaper came out on July 9, 1938. It was printed at their offices in North Omaha. Five thousand copies were made. Each copy cost only ten cents.
The newspaper's main message was "Joy and Happiness." The Star shared positive news about the black community in North Omaha, Nebraska. It celebrated African-American families, role models, and achievements. The Star quickly became a very important part of the North Omaha community. By 1945, it was the only black newspaper still being printed in Omaha. Omaha is Nebraska's largest city.
Standing Up for Rights
In the 1950s, the Omaha Star became well-known across the country. It reported on local and national news from the view of the African-American community in Omaha. The newspaper encouraged its readers to vote and to run for public office.
A group called the DePorres Club met at the Omaha Star offices. This was an early youth-led civil rights group in Omaha. They started in 1947. They met at the Star after Creighton University asked them to leave their campus.
Mildred Brown, as the newspaper's publisher, used her influence. She encouraged businesses to hire black people for more jobs. Her reporting on civil rights and protests in the 1960s was highly praised. President Lyndon B. Johnson even honored her for her work.
After Mildred Brown passed away in 1989, her niece, Marguerita Washington, took over. The newspaper continues to be published today.
The Star Today
Today, about 30,000 copies of the Star are printed. They are sent to 48 states across the country. A survey in 2001 found that each copy of the paper was read about six times. This happened before it was thrown away. In its long history, The Omaha Star has never missed printing an edition. Preston Love, a famous Omaha jazz musician, worked for the Star. He was an advertising specialist before he passed away.
In 2006, the Omaha Star building was named an Omaha Landmark. This was done by the City of Omaha. In 2007, the Omaha City Council gave the Omaha Star a grant. This money was for remodeling the building. The Star building is in an area that the city is working to improve.
Marguerita Washington, the owner and publisher, announced a new project. She partnered with Metropolitan Community College. They plan to create a memorial park next to the Star office. This park will honor Mildred Brown, who founded the newspaper. Students from the college will help with the landscaping for the "Mildred Brown Strolling Park."
Awards and Recognition
The Omaha Star has received many honors for its important work:
- In 1996, the Star was added to the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame.
- It received the Golden Spike Award. This award recognizes businesses that have helped Omaha's economy a lot.
- Marguerita Washington started a non-profit group. It is called the Mildred D. Brown Study Center. This center gives scholarships to students who want to study journalism. It will be located at the Omaha Star building.
The Omaha Star is also a member of the National Newspapers Publishers Association. This is a group of African-American newspapers.
In 2008, the Omaha Star building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was because of its important connection to the civil rights movement.
