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Being Black in Lincoln: Karla Cooper reveled in serving Quinn Chapel congregation

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

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Being Black in Lincoln: Karla Cooper reveled in serving Quinn Chapel congregation

From the Being Black in Lincoln: The series series

1 of 5

Prayer Vigil

The Rev. Karla Cooper believes people are more aware of the insidious nature of racism. “But there’s still this level of (people) with blinders on that (think) it’s not happening here,” she said.

Karla Cooper

The Rev. Karla Cooper delivers a sermon at Quinn Chapel in 2011.

The Rev. Karla Cooper talks to the crowd during the Women's March outside the Capitol in 2017.

Barb Baier (left) exchanges vows with Lin Quenzer (right) as the Rev. Karla Cooper officiates at their wedding in July 2015 at the Sunken Gardens.

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Zach Wendling For the Lincoln Journal Star

Karla Cooper

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Being Black in Lincoln: Business owner Rupert forged his own path when others told him no

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Being Black in Lincoln: The series

More than 150 years after America’s slaves were freed and Nebraska gave birth to its capital, a UNL journalism class posed the question: What’…

About the series

More than 150 years after America’s slaves were freed and Nebraska gave birth to its capital, a UNL journalism class posed the question: What’s it like to be Black in Lincoln?

Students spent 15 weeks digging deep into the lives of a dozen residents representing a cross-section of Lincoln’s Black community: former basketball stars, BLM leaders, preachers, teachers, cops, convicts, businessmen, chefs, electricians and youth leaders. They discovered many had faced racial profiling, housing discrimination and police harassment, while others received ugly death threats, verbal abuse and hate-filled letters. The students also found that these Black residents think Lincoln’s racial climate has improved overall but still has a ways to go. And most believed that it will get there.

The semester-long depth-reporting project was overseen by Professors Joe Starita and Jennifer Sheppard and instructor Roger Holmes.

Other stories will be featured this summer in the Journal Star and at JournalStar.com.

The Rev. Karla Cooper

Age: 52.

Profession: Preacher who loves to teach.

Favorite movie: "The Color Purple."

Someone I admire: Parents Joel and Kay Cooper.

Philosophy of life: "Try to do the most good to be an effective altruist doing the most good."

In this Series

Being Black in Lincoln: The series

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The Rev. Karla Cooper believes people are more aware of the insidious nature of racism. “But there’s still this level of (people) with blinders on that (think) it’s not happening here,” she said.

The Rev. Karla Cooper delivers a sermon at Quinn Chapel in 2011.

The Rev. Karla Cooper talks to the crowd during the Women's March outside the Capitol in 2017.

Barb Baier (left) exchanges vows with Lin Quenzer (right) as the Rev. Karla Cooper officiates at their wedding in July 2015 at the Sunken Gardens.

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