Roots of Justice: A History of Race and Racism in Nebraska

There is much to understand about the history of Nebraska and how the past shapes the present. This book attempts to bring into clearer focus the triumphs and trials of five broad groups whose lives have often been overlooked when the state’s history is told. The authors know some of this history of racism firsthand: Most of them have lived as people of color in Nebraska. They’ve experienced “the good, the bad and the ugly” that makes up our state story. We encourage educators, scholars and family historians to continue to dig, to document and to tell these stories. And then to ask: How can we best acknowledge the racism that is part of our history? How might Nebraskans remedy the wrongs of the past and create a future in which racism is no longer a divisive issue? Can we imagine a culture in which differences and stereotypes do not rule the future for our children and grandchildren? How is it possible for all Nebraskans, through what organizations and institutions, to work for the common good in Nebraska? May this history compel us all to imagine a better future – and then to take action to make it happen!--From the Foreword by Bill Arfmann Introduction by M. Dewayne Mays and Paul A. Olson, Native Americans I by Gabriel Bruguier, Native Americans II by Kevin Abourezk, African Americans — A History of African Americans in Nebraska by Preston Love, Jr., with Adam Fletcher Sasse and Heather Fryer, Latinos — Voices of Latinidad: A Truth and Reconciliation Movement to Preserve Latino and Latina History by J.S. Onésimo (Ness) Sándoval, Asian Americans — Exclusion from the Good Life: The Impact of Anti-Asian Racism on Asian Nebraskans by Heather Fryer and Sharon Ishii-Jordan, Recent Arrivals: Refugee Resettlement in Nebraska by Emira Ibrahimpašić and Julia Reilly Separate chapters/essays are available for download @ https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/truth/ DOI 10.32873/unl.dc.rj0