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HASTINGS < Many native Nebraskans have a decent grasp of their state's history.
They know their Oregon Trail from their Mormon Trail, maybe their William Jennings Bryan from their George Norris.
But ask about black history on the Plains, and you might get a few quizzical looks.
Carolyn Johnson, treasurer of the Hastings African-American Awareness Committee, said that holds true among African-Americans as well as whites.
"African-Americans around here don't know what's here," Johnson said.
Black history doesn't get much attention in schools, Johnson said, and when it does, it's rarely connected with the history of this area.
That's part of the reason Johnson's committee has organized a Black History Banquet for the past 11 years, with this year's set to take place at the Adams County Fairgrounds on Saturday afternoon.
"Whatever we had in school, this is bringing some of that closer together (with) some greater understanding," Johnson said.
Speaking at this year's event is Angela Bates, a descendant of settlers of the historic all-African-American town of Nicodemus, Kan.
Nicodemus was founded in 1877 by black settlers and today has 27 residents 26 of whom are African-American, Johnson said.
Bates has devoted much of her adult life to preserving and interpreting Nicodemus' history, helping it become a national historic site.
She will speak about Nicodemus and the experience of African-American women settlers.
Johnson said the event is open to all and encouraged families to attend. She said the event is a great opportunity to meet neighbors and learn something new about local history.
"Unless a person is very closed-minded, everybody's going to walk away with something," she said. "Every year we look forward to it."
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