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Published:  June 15, 2020

By:  Willie Barney, Co-Publisher Revive Omaha

Beyond the Flames:  Why I Believe 2020 is a Turning Point

Where Do We Go From Here?

Harlem.  Watts.  Newark.  Detroit.  Omaha.  Los Angeles.  Ferguson.  Baltimore. Minneapolis.

“If we don’t learn from history, we are destined to repeat it.”
– Philosopher George Santanya and Winston Churchill

In 2014, as I watched the fires burning in Ferguson, Missouri, I wrote a piece entitled “Beyond the Flames:  Will We Get It Right This Time?”  Ferguson was burning in response to the devastating scenes following the killing of Michael Brown by a police officer.  I was so impacted and moved that I had to write down on paper what became a speech I gave at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

This followed the 2012 vigilante killing of Trayvon Martin and preceded the 2015 death of Freddie Gray in police custody which ignited the flames in Baltimore.   The frustrating and devastating list goes on and on and continues today.

There have been other shootings of unarmed black men and black women when police officers received no repercussions from their crime.  This list also includes Omaha after the officer-involved shooting of Vivian Strong in 1969 that resulted in the destruction of North 24th Street.  The once thriving corridor is just now in the process of being rebuilt.

No justice for Eric Garner, New York, 2014.  No justice for Sandra Bland, 2015, southeast Texas.  No justice for Philando Castile 2016, suburban Minnesota.   No justice.

African-Americans have tried to send a message for decades that we are suffering.  Suffering from the lingering impacts of slavery, Jim Crow and segregation effects that were never fully addressed.  Suffering from unemployment, lack of investment, neglect, poor educational outcomes, low access to capital, over policing, poor housing conditions and so much more.  There have been small attempts to fix the situation, but nothing substantial and sustained.

A temporary reconstruction period followed the abolishment of slavery where some progress was made, but abandoned just at the time when freed slaves were finally starting to become integrated into American life.  No Justice.

There were promises made beyond the elimination of slavery.  Promises for land, property and finances for the freed slaves to get a new start at becoming full citizens.    Policies were changed to finally recognize African-Americans as being 100% human, correcting the Constitution which had declared us as 3/5ths of a man.

The original constitutional declaration allowed America to benefit economically for over 250 years from free labor through inhumane conditions.  It is referred to as the worst form of enslavement in modern history.  African-Americans helped build this country and were paid nothing for it.  No Justice.

What’s happening today is not new.  Racial tensions have raged before. There has always been a spark which kindled the flames.

These flames have come as city after city and community after community across the nation have been destroyed.

Before Richard Nixon was elected in 1968 on the promise to be a law and order president, President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) commissioned a group to find out why the cities across the country were burning.  The commission produced a document which became known as the Kerner Report.

Rather than identifying African-Americans as the cause, the report shined the light on white America.  The Kerner Commission presented the case that the blame for the riots should be placed squarely on the shoulders of underlying conditions of injustice, neglect, disinvestment, unequal treatment and systematic racism.

The report clearly states the priorities that must be addressed:  1. Unemployment and low wages.  2.  Poor educational systems.  3.  Poor housing conditions.  4. Bad relationships between police and the community.  5. Lack of services for those in poverty and the structure of welfare system.

The most important conclusion to address the injustice?  America needed to make a significant investment to right the wrongs of the past.

Little did I know until recently that the former Mayor of Omaha, A. V. Sorensen, had reached the same conclusion in 1968.  He said then that Omaha needed to bring together people from all sectors to form a coalition that would oversee a massive investment to address African-American poverty.  Nothing was done.

He left office realizing the city did not have the will or appetite to fully address the issue.  The city and nation continued redlining and driving interstates through the heart of black communities under the guise of urban redevelopment.

America chose to make small investments to address the injustice, but with a costly Vietnam War occurring at the same time, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared that the nation had given black America a blank check.  He said the easy part of the Civil Rights Movement was getting legislation passed for voting rights; the hard part was securing the funds to address the economic issues.  This was going to cost the nation money, King said.

For a time, mostly through programs enacted by President Johnson, some investments were made through the so-called War on Poverty.  The investments were not sustained and were not implemented anywhere near the level required.

One of the most significant statements and conclusions from the Kerner Commission was “to mount programs on the scale equal to the dimension of the problems.”  “These programs will require unprecedented levels of funding and performance…”

The report emphasized that if America didn’t respond on a large scale, we would see the creation of two America’s.  One black. One white.  Separate. Unequal.

Across the nation, we have inherited the promise.  Two Americas.  One white.  The other, everyone else (black and brown).

I wrote in the speech, after watching the flames in Ferguson, that in 1968, the nation had a decision to make.  Do we finally invest in helping African Americans become economically sound and full citizens or do we invest more in police, expanding the criminal justice system and building more prisons?

President Richard Nixon answered the question for America.  Law and order.  No Justice.

For decades, African-Americans have asked for additional investments to address employment, education, housing, health and other needs.  Funding was never available at the scale of the problem.  Communities were not rebuilt.

African-Americans asked for the promised 40 acres and a mule.  African-Americans presented plans such as the Freedom Agenda under Dr. King which proposed to end poverty in 10 years. African-Americans asked for reparations.

It is important to note reparations have been granted across the world after a specific race, ethnic group or nation was on the wrong end of injustice. The answer to these requests for African-Americans?  No funds available.  No justice.

Where would America ever come up with trillions of dollars to right this wrong?  We were always told, it would be absolutely impossible. We were told there is absolutely no way America could ever come up with trillions of dollars to address its original sin.  It’s been over 400 years since enslaved Africans were brought to these shores.

But, no recompense.  No Justice.

Instead we are told, pick yourself up by your bootstraps and help yourself.  Instead we are told, forget about slavery.  Instead we are told, you’ve had a black President.  Instead we are told, it’s a post-racial society and racism doesn’t exist.  Help yourselves, we are told.  There will be no hand up, we are told.

Cue the Coronavirus.

The virus may not be racist, but the impact surely is disproportionately destructive to African Americans and other people of color.  Health and economic inequities have been laid bare. Consequently, the virus called for a critical response.  A national response.

What does COVID-19 have to do with this justice and systemic racism?  As soon as the nation began to experience the negative economic and health impacts of the virus, immediate legislation was drafted and approved by Congress.  The Treasury Department rewrote the rules.  Trillions of dollars were miraculously found and infused into the economy to address suffering corporations, small businesses and most U.S. citizens.

In a moment of crisis, leaders can find the money.

The message this sends is that it matters who is suffering.  African-Americans have been suffering for centuries. Native Americans have been suffering for centuries.  However, when the unemployment rate for white Americans hit the same level as the African-American unemployment rate which has languished for decades, Congress and the Treasury department have taken actions to produce what is estimated at seven trillion dollars of economic activity.

The question is where did the money come from in this instance?  It’s been made abundantly clear that the nation could have made the right decision in 1865.  We could have made the right decision in 1918.  We could have made the right decision in 1968. We could have made the right decision in 1992 after Los Angeles and Rodney King.  We could have made the right decision after Ferguson in 2014.  We could have made the right decision after Baltimore in 2015.

No justice.   No peace.   Fast forward.

Cue the final spark.

Watching an unarmed black man, George Floyd, die a horrific death with the knee of a white police officer on his neck, and 2 other officers on his prone body behind the car, the image was finally too much. African-Americans have experienced police brutality and violence for decades, but this was filmed, became a viral moment on social media, and impossible to ignore, deny or cover up.  Breaking point.

In the midst of a pandemic which has killed over 100,000 Americans and disproportionately impacted African Americans and people of color, we once again are face to face with injustice and racism.

After being locked away in their homes for nearly three months and watching the video from Minneapolis and dozens of other racial events within a few weeks, cities across the country and internationally have erupted with protests and flames are once again burning in America.

What to do now?  Where’s the hope?

We know what needs to be done.  We have known for decades.  Case study after case study, commission after commission and book after book, have boiled down to economics, education, housing, equal access to health care and people working together to address poverty and systemic racism.

 Be sure to check out Part II:  Moving Forward with Solutions

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Community Features

Experienced Community Banker, Karnetta Rushing joins the Carver Legacy Center team

Great news for the North Omaha community and beyond.

Karnetta Rushing, a former Senior Vice President and Branch Manager from First National Bank has joined the Carver Legacy Team and will formally host open hours at the Historic 24th and Lake location.

“After three years operating mostly by appointment at the location, we are excited to have Karnetta join the team,” said Willie Barney, one of the owners of Carver. “She has an incredible knowledge of banking and she’s one of the most community-focused people I’ve ever known.”

Rushing is now available at the Carver on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to six pm each week. She will also continue the community days on the second Saturday and host special events and financial empowerment sessions at the Center.

Because of the joint venture between Carver and American National Bank, she will be able to assist new and existing customers with many products and services of a traditional bank.

“I’m excited and looking forward to serving this community and meeting all of their banking needs at this historic location,” said Rushing. “I have a passion to see our community thrive financially and much of that starts with a strong banking relationship.  Working at Carver will allow me to help families, businesses, organizations, and ministries to accomplish their financial goals and make their visions a reality.”

A native of North Omaha, Rushing worked in the banking industry for over 20 years before retiring in 2020 to provide care for her mother. She worked in the downtown offices for First National Bank for a few years but spent most of her career at the location along Ames.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with customers throughout my career to make their dreams come true whether buying a home, launching or scaling a business, saving for a car or their education,” said Rushing. “To have this opportunity to do it at Carver, with people who are absolutely committed to seeing this community succeed, is amazing.”

Carver Legacy Center is a Black-owned financial center owned by Willie and Yolanda Barney and Martin and Lynnell Williams.  The business contracts with American National Bank to administer their Carver Legacy Accounts allowing them to instantly have access to locations across the Omaha metro to serve customers and meet their banking needs.

However, it is more than a traditional bank, as the team is committed to investing in the community.

“Through our outstanding partnership with American National Bank, we are able to receive deposits, will be issuing our own debit card and can lend capital to businesses in our community make investments in our community,” said Barney. “We are willing to go above and beyond to help our customers and community to succeed.”

In just two years, Carver has lent over $4 million to small businesses in the North Omaha community.  With Rushing on board, the team is prepared for exponential growth to have an even greater impact in the community.

“This has always been the plan,” said Lynnell Williams. “We wanted to take our time to fully develop the model and then find the right person to lead our location at 24th and Lake.”

“I’m most excited about what Karnetta will be able to do to help customers with developing plans to save their money and invest for the future.”

Carver has already invested in a number of businesses from a wide array of industries and sectors.

“Our customer base has grown consistently over the past few years,” said Martin Williams. “I am beyond excited to have Karnetta join our team.  The dream is becoming even more of a reality.  She will be able to really make an impact with our community.”

In addition to having the financial center at Carver Legacy Center open, the Carver Hub will also be activated.

“The original vision for Carver included the Hub, an incubator store, and the financial center. With Karnetta’s business banking experience, she is the perfect person to get the Hub going as well,” said Yolanda Barney.

“The Hub will be a place where entrepreneurs and business owners can come to get connected with information, training, and resources to launch and scale their business,” said Willie Barney. “They will also be able to meet with experts in finance, accounting, marketing, HR, and legal matters and link up with other opportunities to grow their business. Having Karnetta lead the way is a huge step forward towards the bigger vision.”

 

Carver Legacy Center at 24th and Lake

Open Tuesdays and Thursdays from Noon to 6 p.m.

Open every second Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 pm

 

For more information:

Phone:  402-507-8441

 

Customers can also still conduct business at any American National Bank location and use their Carver Card locally and nationwide.

Carver Legacy Accounts are FDIC insured through American National Bank.

 

 

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Community Features

Confirmation and Momentum: May 2025 was a historic and unprecedented time

On a personal and professional level, the month of May 2025 was incredibly confirming. Game changing. Unprecedented. Historic. It was a time of confirmation, transition and transformation.

I had the opportunity to present in New York at a national Black economic summit that featured Governor Wes Moore, Killer Mike – musical artist and entrepreneur, CEO’s, investors, funders, researchers, media execs and many others. The keynote presentations and points of emphasis all completely confirmed the models we have been implementing for the past 18 years and the next phase we are preparing to launch.

I then woke up at 3 am to board a flight after the two-day event to get back in time to facilitate a leadership meeting and then a separate conversation about voter turnout and mobilization.  More confirmation about the expansion of the model.

My friend and one of the original members of the Empowerment Network and Omaha 360, John Ewing was elected as Mayor of Omaha.  The first Black mayor elected in the city! A committed leader and man of God, who has served this community with passion and excellence for 40+ years.  We have worked together for over 20+ years and the visions we discussed are becoming reality. Great things ahead.

The next day was the start of our 18th Annual Rebuilding the Village Conference with national guests from eight different cities focused on creating safe, thriving, and prosperous communities. This year was different as we redesigned and dedicated the conference to elevating deeper collaboration, rediscovering economic self-sufficiency, building wealth, pooling, and investing resources and working together toward community transformation.

One of the most significant moments was having the opportunity to facilitate a panel featuring representatives from some of the most successful Black Wall Streets in the history of this nation. A long-held vision! For years I have researched Black Wall Streets and now have the opportunity to document the keys to success. Absolute confirmation.

I was also blessed to have the opportunity to recognize JoAnna LeFlore Ejike and the Malcolm X Foundation for their work and in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Malcolm X’s birth.  JoAnna shared some key information regarding why Malcolm’s dad moved to Omaha, and I have always appreciated Malcolm’s message of self-help.

We also celebrated our National Empowerment Champion, Ryana Parks Shaw, Mayor Pro Tem from Kansas City. She has led many projects and she’s an incredible champion for the Empowerment Network, KC 360 and KC United for Public Safety.  She introduced and led the approval of a $30 million fund to support community-based violence prevention and intervention efforts in KC.  She shows what’s possible through strong leadership skills, effective policy making and commitment to community.

A week later, my daughter graduated from high school. What an incredible blessing. My son, mother and stepfather joined us along with many members of Priscilla’s village. She had a great experience at Central and is now headed to UNL.

Then last week, after an intense 360 meeting that I’ll speak more on very soon, we loaded a bus to Tulsa’s Black Wall Street to present the collective action plan that I have facilitated with the engagement of 250+ Black leaders and change makers we’ve convened collectively with a planning team. It is already producing fruit.

In addition, we took 25 Omaha entrepreneurs, community builders and national strategic partners to Tulsa this past week. I had the opportunity to introduce the comprehensive model that I have been developing, piloting, and evolving for nearly 35 years. The response to the models and framework has been overwhelmingly positive.

While in Tulsa, we launched the next phase of the Revive Black Business Network and Empowerment Network. We focused intensely on relationship development, business connections and exchanges, fund development and access to capital, housing and development, history and cultural tourism, and education and youth development. We had the strongest feedback of any session we have facilitated. Let me just say some strategic business relationships were established and expanded.

History was made again. We met with Mayor Monroe Nichols in Tulsa, Oklahoma home of Greenwood’s Black Wall Street on our Rebuild and Transform Tour. The first Black Mayor of Tulsa. He was also part of our State of Black Tulsa Summit.

104 years after the massacre with two survivors in the audience.  He announced the establishment of the Greenwood Trust which will include an initial $105 million to help begin to address home ownership, business loans and other economic development initiatives to further reinvest in rebuilding Greenwood!

As he met with us on Friday, May 31st, he sees the Tulsa Empowerment Network as a key partner on the journey. Congratulations to all of our friends and partners in Tulsa. Thankful to be a part of this next phase.

It was truly a transformational month.  I finally feel free to speak more openly about the bigger picture and I am incredibly encouraged by the confirmation coming from thousands of participants, partners, and supporters from across the country and even internationally.

I am now preparing to release some significant pieces including an article I have been working on and updating for five years.  The article will be an introduction to some upcoming books. Thank you, Jesus!

Momentum is building and accelerating. Grateful to so many supporters and partners in Omaha and across the country. Walking in faith. Walking in purpose.

Get engaged.  Stay engaged!  Let’s build together.

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Community Features

95% increase in the number of Black-owned businesses with employees in Omaha

A recent story by the Brookings Institution highlights a 95% increase in the number of Black-owned businesses with employees in the Omaha metro.

The Brookings reports leads with the statement that Black-owned businesses are driving economic growth in America.

The report uses data from the Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey showing an increase of 182 Black-owned businesses with employees in Omaha from 2017 to 2022.

That is great news for the organizations and businesses working to increase the number and size of Black-owned businesses.

“This is incredible. A 95% surge in Black-owned businesses with employees in Omaha is more than a statistic—it’s a testament to resilience, innovation, and economic empowerment,” said Frank Hayes, CEO and Founder of Hayes & Associates.  “This growth fuels generational wealth, strengthens communities, and drives the local economy forward. When Black businesses thrive, Omaha thrives!”

The Brookings report shows that minority businesses are driving economic growth in the entire country.

Some neighboring cities in the Midwest and partner cities also performed very well when it comes to increasing the number of Black owned businesses.

“We set a goal in 2015 to work together to help create or scale 250 more Black-owned businesses with employees by 2025,” said Willie Barney, CEO of the Empowerment Network and co-owner of the Revive Black Business Network and Carver Legacy Center.  “We’ve partnered with many organizations to host expos, markets, workshops, networking events and assist with raising capital and securing investments.”

“Even with the pandemic, we have collectively made substantial and measurable progress. This proves what can be accomplished in just five years and we want to help create or scale 250 more businesses before 2030.”

Locally, there are many support organizations and the entrepreneurs working to make things happen in Omaha:

  • Nebraska Enterprise Fund
  • Grow Nebraska
  • Omaha 100
  • Start Center
  • Omaha Economic Development Corporation
  • Revive Black Business Network
  • Empowerment Network
  • Carver Legacy Center
  • Metro Omaha Women’s Business Center
  • Hayes & Associates
  • Business Seals
  • Small Business Administration
  • DreamBusiness
  • Greater Omaha Chamber
  • Urban League of Nebraska
  • Midlands African-Chamber
  • and others are focused on entrepreneurship and business growth.

“When we invest in small businesses, we invest in the heartbeat of our communities. These businesses don’t just provide services, they create jobs, generate local spending, and fuel economic growth. By empowering entrepreneurs in low to moderate-income communities, we build ecosystems of opportunity where every dollar earned circulates locally, strengthening neighborhoods and paving the way for generational prosperity,” said Veta Jeffery, CEO of Jeffery Consulting.

“These achievements are encouraging and proof that the focus on building an entrepreneurial economy-system is vital to building vibrant communities,” said Jim Reiff, Executive Director of Nebraska Enterprise Fund.  “While a confirmation of our collective efforts, I see this as a call to action for the next five years and beyond.   Each small business that expands or successfully starts improves all of the community.”

 

MOVING FORWARD

“The timing is perfect for this report as we turn our attention to Transformation 2030,” said Barney. “This should be a celebration point for Omaha and other cities and also inspire us all to push even harder after seeing what is possible.”

Investments through the North and South Omaha Recovery Program and other sources should help accelerate the pace of growth even more in Omaha over the next five years.

The additional funding is made possible through the partnership of the community and leadership of Senators Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney to gain passage of LB1024 and LB531.

After a nearly unanimous vote in the Nebraska State Legislature and the signatures of former Governor Pete Ricketts and current Governor Jim Pillen, the legislation became law.

Awards were announced in January 2024 and The Department of Economic Development has led the allocation of funding and many Black-owned businesses benefitted from grants ranging from $50,000 to $2,000,000.

The future $30 million investment in the IHUB and $90 million business park in North Omaha will also make an impact.

These funds and other strategic investments will support the continued progress and help to increase the number of Black-owned businesses with employees.  It also has an impact on future generations.

“When young people grow up seeing businesses start and thrive around them, they begin to dream bigger, knowing they, too, can build and contribute. This cycle of inspiration and opportunity fuels long-term economic resilience, ensuring that thriving businesses lead to thriving communities for generations to come,” said Jeffery.

Read the full Brookings report here:  Driving prosperity: How Black-owned businesses fueled recent economic growth

For a listing of Black-owned businesses in Omaha.  Revive Black Business Guide – Revive! Omaha

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More Details by Sector:

Analysis by Raheem Sanders, CEO of PPRP Innovations.

The growth in Black-owned businesses has not been confined to a single industry – it has been spread across multiple sectors of Omaha’s economy, with every major industry seeing increases. A U.S. Census Business analysis noted that from 2017 to 2019, the number of Black-owned firms grew in all sectors of the U.S. economy, and this broad-based growth has been reflected in Omaha as well.

Growth by Sector:

  • Health Care & Social Assistance has been the #1 industry for Black-owned businesses in Omaha by total count of firms. In 2022, there were about 75 Black-owned health care/social assistance firms with employees, making up roughly 20% of all Black-owned employer businesses in Omaha. This sector saw about +56% growth from ~48 firms in 2017 to 75 in 2022. Nationwide, health care is also the top industry for Black business owners (49,872 such firms in 2022) (4).
  • Professional & Technical Services and Construction each account for ~10–12% of Omaha’s Black-owned firms. By 2022, there were roughly 45 Black-owned professional service firms and 37 construction companies in Omaha – both nearly doubling since 2015.
  • Other Services (personal services, nonprofits, etc.) nearly doubled to 30 by 2022.
  • Transportation & Warehousing saw explosive growth from about 12 to 37 firms (~200% increase). Nationally, transportation/warehousing was the fastest-growing sector for Black owned businesses (nearly +150% from 2017–2022) (4).
  • Administrative & Support Services also doubled (from ~15 to 30).
  • Retail Trade and Accommodation/Food Services each expanded significantly (~100% growth).
  • Real Estate doubled from ~6 to 15 (≈+150%), mirroring a national real estate surge (~102% growth) (4).
  • Finance & Insurance remains the smallest category (growing from ~2–3 to ~4).

(Data Sources:  Estimates for 2015–2017 are based on available Census percentages (1) and Omaha’s share of statewide data. Actual 2022 figures from Census/Brookings Institution (3)(4). 2025 is a projection assuming continued growth. All figures rounded.)

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