Black firefighters lead push for more diversity in Omaha Fire Department: 'Its a big pie, and...

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Gordon was the quarterback of my Jr High football team. Haven’t seen him in years.

OS

http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/black-firefighters-lead-push-for-more-diversity-in-omaha-fire/article_25799eec-b047-11e6-aeef-0f6b20fb3274.html

By Roseann Moring / World-Herald staff writer Updated 3 hrs ago

When Pete Andrews became an Omaha firefighter in 1995, he says he was one of 42 black firefighters.

In 2016 that number has dwindled to 34, which is a little more than 5 percent of the force. And there are no black firefighters ranked above captain.

Andrews, who leads the Omaha Association of Black Professional Firefighters, says that’s a problem. He and other community leaders say black Omahans deserve more opportunities to become firefighters, and black firefighters deserve more opportunities for promotion.

“It’s a big pie, and we’d like a piece of pie to put our Cool Whip on, too,” Andrews said. “I prefer pie over crumbs.”

FULL story at link.