Unsung Heros

Tessie Edwards was born January 9, 1927 in North Omaha (Find a Grave, n.d.). She attended Omaha Central High School and after a brief time at Fisk University, received her Bachelor’s Degree in History from Creighton University in 1949. She was an advocate for civil rights and integration beginning in high school, where she faced discrimination from student organizations and segregation in lunchrooms, and continued this work through the DePorres Club at Creighton, which she was the secretary for from 1949 -1951 (Reilly, 1995-1996). The DePorres Club fought against segregation and discrimination in Omaha, challenging racist hiring practices, segregated restaurants and businesses, and promoting integration and positive race relations (Holland, n.d.).