Omaha's oldest Black-owned newspaper is now owned by a Black woman, making history.

Terri Sanders, a Black woman and native Omahan, is now the proud owner of The Omaha Star, Nebraska’s oldest Black-owned newspaper. Sanders is the fifth woman to take charge of the Star, but the first to have sole ownership. When discussing her new role, Sanders expressed that she has been dreaming of this moment for a long time.

The Star has had a rich legacy of Black leadership, which Sanders is eager to continue. “Phyllis Hicks was the publisher, as was Frankie Williams, and I am No. 5,” said Sanders, “I knew Mrs. Mildred Brown as a little girl growing up in Omaha. I knew what she represented and believed in it.”

The Star has long held an important place in the community, and Sanders is dedicated to keeping it in its current location in north Omaha. “It was important to keep it here and not move it, and not have someone outside of our community that did not understand the relevance and the importance and the history that goes along with The Omaha Star,” she said.

In addition to the paper’s historical importance, Sanders has plans to make some changes that will honor its founders and give the publication a larger digital presence. She wants to turn part of the building into a museum dedicated to Mildred Brown and Black journalism.

The Black population in the area has declined in the past few years, amounting to only 12% of the total populace since the COVID-19 pandemic; however, north Omaha is home to over half of that total. Sanders is determined to make sure The Omaha Star continues to be a source of positive stories and representation for the Black community in the area.

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