The first African American female graduate of Omaha Public Schools (1889)

Community development is sparked by people knowing and loving themselves and others around them. So much they make a career out of transforming communities, and the people around them. Therefore, representation matters. Comfort Baker stood out to me because she was a black educator responsible for shaping young minds in 1893. Can you imagine being a person of color and being educated by someone that looks like you, and has shared experiences and insight about your culture? Her biography wowed me, please see below.

Comfort Baker, was born on February 15, 1870, in New Bern, North Carolina. Her father died when she was very young, and at the age of 12, her mother moved her to Raleigh. When she was 13 her mother died, and Comfort was orphaned. An aunt and uncle in Omaha adopted her, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hendricks.

By 1885 she was in the 8th grade at the Central Grade School at 22nd and Dodge Streets. That year she was noticed by the Omaha Daily Herald for never missing a day of school in all the time she went there. However, after going to school through school that year her uncle died, and “a mental affliction on the part of her aunt” left Comfort homeless. Despite her many difficulties she would go on and complete the following achievements.

In her lifetime, Mrs. Comfort Baker Caldwell was…

• The first African American female graduate of Omaha Public Schools (1889)
• The first African American teacher in Phoenix Union High School District (1918)
• The first African American principal in Phoenix Union High School District (1925)
• The founder of the only school for Black students in Phoenix
  
  

As of 2022, Comfort Baker Caldwell has not been acknowledged officially in Omaha for her accomplishments. There is no historical plaque, designation, or honor to her name anywhere in the city.

Source: https://northomahahistory.com/2022/09/17/a-biography-of-comfort-baker/