African American Studies Commons^™

'My Hope Is That John Lewis’ Life Will Be As A Beacon To Our Young", Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Congressman John Lewis was a friend of mine for 40 years. I mourn the passing of my dear friend, who was 80.

Understand North Omaha's Past To Chart The Best Course For The Future, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

As a native of Omaha with years of accumulated wisdom as to the plight of my beloved race, I have a responsibility to speak up during these tumultuous times. I do not have the right, however, to speak for my community. I am observing a tremendous surge of activism and conversation among black Omahans, from our elected officials and organizational leaders to our lay leaders and, most importantly, our young leaders.

The Pandemic Of Racism Has Endured And Grown. It's Time To Listen., Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Noted African American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois more than a century ago wrote of the “peculiar indifference” to the magnitude of human suffering brought about by racial disparities in health outcomes.

Burden, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Burden (2020) directed by Andrew Heckler.

Run Sweetheart Run, Jodi Mcdavid

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Run Sweetheart Run (2020) directed by Shana Feste.

2019 Black Votes Matter Tour: Comprehensive Report With Data Detail Breakout, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Background: The seed for the Black Votes Matter Youth initiative is as a response to the lack of knowledge of the black history and the civil rights movement. In order for our youth to become effective leaders, they must learn and have respect for their own history. The Black Votes Matter Tour was designed to address this void. Students are chosen from nominations made by various grassroots organizations serving youth, such as the HOPE Center, Avenue Scholars, 100 Black Men, Urban League, Big Brothers Big Sisters and more. In addition to individual donations, we received significant grants from The Sherwood …

The 2019 Black Votes Matter Face To Face With Black History Tour, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

For the record, the BVM 2018 Tour exceeded all expectations as to content, impact and outcome. For a complete review, there is a Comprehensive Analysis and Report on the 2018 Tour, available upon request through the BVM Office at 402-905-9305.

Planning and arrangements, for the 2019 Face to Face with Black History Tour, is in full throttle and in the final stages. The 2019 students have been identified and meetings with the nominating groups and parents have been completed. In 2018, we were able to take 40-OPS high school kids on the tour. In 2019, there will be 65 students …

Did You Know That He(She) Had A Stroke?, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Did you know that he (she) had a stroke? The aforementioned, menacing question is being asked in every city, every social circle and every family, every day. Most recently, this haunting question has been asked about me, 76 years-old, 225 pounds, 6’4,” and by all appearances in great health, but I indeed, had a stroke. I had a stroke on the third day in 2019, and I am writing this article because my experience with my stroke and to increase the awareness of my community to the its dangers and to provide some facts and some precautions as it relates …

Face To Face With Black History Tour: A Complete And Comprehensive Trip Report, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Thank You!
Thanks to you, our donors and partners, the 2nd annual 2019 Black Votes Matter Tour exceeded all expectations!
We inspired youth and adults to Learn, Respect, and then Go Make History. We are extremely grateful for all of our donors and ask for your support as we continue to invest in the next generation of youth leadership development.
We are also educating Greater Omaha to greater empathy and understanding of Black History and where our youth fit in the picture.
Will you join us?

Background
The seed for the Black Votes Matter Youth initiative is as a response …

Omaha’S Documented Lynching: Where Do We Go From Here?, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

One of Omaha’s riots occurred September 28–29, 1919. The riot was by white people: it was not a race riot as they were frequently termed and it resulted in the brutal lynching of Will Brown, a black worker(he was also shot, burned and dragged through north Omaha); the death of two white rioters; the attempted hanging of Mayor Edward Parsons Smith; as well as white and black citizens; and a public rampage by thousands of white rioters who set fire to the Douglas County Courthouse in downtown Omaha. It followed more than 20 race riots that occurred in major industrial …

2018 Election: North Omaha Voted Like Crazy!!, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

After years of low voting numbers in post 2008 (Obama era), North Omaha voters are fully awake and taking care of business. Years of pounding the streets, Forums, Town Halls, Voter Registration and Education efforts, our first North Omaha Political Convention, finally a commitment of staff and money by the Nebraska Democratic Party, new fresh activism by new and upcoming political leadership like Precious McKesson, Barry Thomas, Kimara Snipes, NOISE and many others, added to the long term work of Black Votes Matter and even the presidency of Donald Trump, North Omaha has gotten the point, that our vote is …

Blackkklansman, William L. Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of BlacKkKlansman (2018), directed by Spike Lee.

Black Votes Matter Election Endorsements, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Most years our list of endorsements is made up of several very difficult decisions. Not so, this General Elections. Black or white, Democratic or Republican, what and who we think will work with and for this community, we endorse. Because of serious problems we have with National policy, State policy and local issues this was not difficult in 2018.

The Black Votes Matter Tour Banquet, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

In July 2017, we had a vision that was rooted in my experience, research, and observation of our youth. The challenge is that our youth, as wonderful as they may be, and with all their innate potential, by and large, have little or no knowledge of their Black and civil rights history. Thus, our vision.

As many know, the vision was to provide as many youths as possible with knowledge, face to face experience and inspiration, as it relates to that history and the development of future leaders. Our strategy was, and is, a significantly transformative experience by touring many …

North Omaha Voter: Which Excuse Is Yours!! Part 2, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Recently I conducted a scholarly research project for my Master’s Degree class of study at Bellevue University. I wrote two 2000-word papers on my finding. Both papers analyzed finding from a random survey which included an interview question. The survey asked about voter habits, age, race, and reasons for the participant who are not voting, why not. The results were stimulating and I plan to expand on the study this year. The two papers are available from my website: prestonlovejr.com/ blackvotesmatter/case study.

The New Face Of North Omaha, 2018: Our Asian/Karen Neighbors, Part 1, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

On September 21, 2018, I, along with many others, were shocked and dismayed at the disgraceful handling of 500 of our fellow North Omaha neighbors, the Asian ethnic group Karen. These wonderful, loving people, come from an area sandwiched between Thailand and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Their plight is tragic because they have been victims of ethnic genocide and warfare in their own country, forced to become refugees in Thailand, in mostly isolated and overcrowded and otherwise horrible conditions. Over 400,000 Karen people are homeless, and with a few exceptions, no access to clean water, electricity, clothing and proper …

Face To Face With Black History, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

June 23, 40 of our youth, specifically OPS High School youth returned from a life changing Civil Rights Tour throughout the South. Memphis, Birmingham, Tuskegee, Selma, Across the Edmond Pettus Bridge, Montgomery (including the new lynching Memorial and Memorial) and Atlanta. They returned different than they left. They returned educated, sensitized, empowered and focused. They are going to be our future leaders. They came face to face with their own Black history. They will never be the same.

Urban Economic Development, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Previously, I have written that there are three emerging issues that will impact north Omaha and require collaboration and engagement with the community, Economic development is priority number one. Included in this article is what I see as the need for our political parties to act on.

North Omaha Makes Political History, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

“North Omaha, Vote like Crazy”
April 14th will go down in the long and rich history of North Omaha as a significant event albeit political for our community.

Over 250 community members of all political persuasions, cultures, and races joined together Saturday, April 14th at the MCC Culinary Arts building for a four-hour intense but relaxed first ever North Omaha Political Convention.

Responsible Economic Development In North Omaha: Scooters, 30th & Ames, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Below is the full statement I made at the ribbon cutting and Grand Opening of Scooters at 30th and Ames:

Greetings to all attendees to this very significant occasion. Special greetings to both the scooters corporate family and the Julian Young business family. I appreciate the small space on this momentous program.

“Hi Auntie”: A Paradox Of Hip Hop Socio-Political Resistance In Killmonger, Daniel White Hodge

Journal of Religion & Film

This is one of a series of film reviews of Black Panther (2018), directed by Ryan Coogler.

Racism And Capitalism In Black Panther, Kyle Derkson

Journal of Religion & Film

This is one of a series of film reviews of Black Panther (2018), directed by Ryan Coogler.

The Ancestral Lands Of Black Panther And Killmonger Unburied, A. David Lewis

Journal of Religion & Film

This is one of a series of film reviews of Black Panther (2018), directed by Ryan Coogler.

Interview With Carlton Pearson, John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

Editor John Lyden had the opportunity for a conversation with Rev. Carlton Pearson, the subject of the Netflix film Come Sunday which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2018. They discussed Pearson's theology of inclusion and what led him to it.

Emerging Issues For North Omaha, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

In the book Economic Cataracts (Love, 2015), the author discusses the residuals of poverty-stricken communities and in particular, North Omaha. The book list and discusses 10 of the reasons poverty-stricken communities are not engaged, a few of the reasons: Poverty, Over-abundance of non-profits and low voter turnout.

Vanessa Ward For Governor!!, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Vanessa Ward represents every good and confronts the bad about the politics. North Omaha has produced some great gems over the years. Athletics, musicians, entrepreneurship, community, the professions, intellectual capital and lastly in politics. Space does not allow me to expand on each but I surely could. Ernie Chambers, Gayle Sayers, Buddy Miles, Cathy Hughes, Bob Gibson, Johnny Rodgers, Gabrielle Union, Dr. Donald Townsend, Symone Sanders, the Fair Deal Café and oh yea, Malcolm. This short list represents only the “tip of the iceberg” of what our north Omaha has offered. For of those not on this short, I ask …

Lazercism, Rubina Ramji

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of LaZercism (2018), dir. Shaka King.

Monsters And Men, William L. Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Monsters and Men (2018), directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.

Man On Fire, William L. Blizek

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Man on Fire (2018) directed by Joel Fendelman.

“My Two Years With Jesse Jackson Sr.”, Part 4, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Jesse Jackson Sr. has made many pilgrimages, negotiating and freeing many American’s in the sensitive world of formal and informal diplomacy. None were more dramatic than in his run for President in 1984. December of 1983 he traveled to Syria and successfully freed an American Soldier (Lt. Goodman) who had been captured and held hostage by the Syrian government. Later in June of 1984, Jackson freed American and Cuban prisoners, capping a dramatic exercise in personal diplomacy with President Fidel Castro of Cuba. Mr. Jackson's chartered Boeing 707 arrived at Dulles International Airport just before midnight with 16 American prisoners …