Charles B. Washington
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Charles_b_washington.jpg/220px-Charles_b_washington.jpg)
Charles B. Washington (December 1, 1923[1] – April 28, 1986) was an American civil rights activist,[2] journalist, and mentor from Omaha, Nebraska. He is best known for his work in North Omaha from the 1940s until his death.
Career
[edit]Washington was initially the sports editor for The Omaha Star prior to attending Oakwood College and was reportedly the youngest editor of any independent black newspaper in the country.[3] In 1944, he was hired by City Recreation director George Vanous and managed softball and baseball teams in the city.[3] He later returned to the Star as a reporter and interviewed Malcolm X for the publication. When he retired from the paper, he had worked as an editor there for 48 years.
Washington was also a well-known local television personality as host of the Urban League-sponsored program Omaha, Can We Do?, which aired on local NBC affiliate WOWT.
On September 14, 1986, the North Branch of the Omaha Public Library was renamed after Washington.[4]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Omaha_can_we_do.jpg/220px-Omaha_can_we_do.jpg)
References
[edit]- ^ "A Voice for North Omaha". Making Invisible Histories Visible. Omaha Public Schools.
- ^ Lowenstein, Roger (2008). Buffett : the making of an American capitalist (Random House Trade paperback ed.). New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks. p. 348. ISBN 9780812979275.
- ^ a b "Recreation Job for Washington". Omaha World-Herald. September 17, 1944.
- ^ "Back in the day, Sept. 14, 1986: North branch of library renamed for Charles B. Washington". Omaha World-Herald. 14 September 2022.
External links
[edit]- Audio Interview with Charles Washington, Nebraska Black Oral History Project, digitized by Archives and Special Collections, University of Nebraska at Omaha Libraries; original held by History Nebraska.