Minnie Bradley

About

There is not much known about Minnie's early life. She came to Omaha with her husband, Norberg like many Black Americans migrating following the Emancipation Proclamation.

After moving to Omaha, Bradley and her husband divorced and she worked as a sex worker in Omaha's red-light district, the Burnt District (also known as Hell's Half-Acre).

Minnie's mugshot and her refusal to look into the camera have often been lauded as an act of defiance and resistance.

Arrests

Minnie Bradley was arrested by the Omaha Police Court on December 13, 1902 on charges of larceny (pick-Pocketing). She was recored at 27 at the time at 5' 2" and 134 pounds. Minnie was given the option to stand trial or leave Omaha to which she chose the latter. It is unclear of whether she left or for how long but she returned to the city in the coming months. In May of 1903, Minnie Bradley was arrested again for robbery. Later in the same year, she was arrested for disturbance of the peace after her and a man by the name of John Sullivan were reported. In March of 1904, Minnie Bradley was arrested as a complaining witness alongside a man by the name of H. Warwick who was arrested for assault and battery. Bradley was described as his 'sweetheart'. Three days following, another article by the Omaha News expanded on the altercation. According to this report, Warwick had bragged to Minnie about spending the previous night with two white women to which Minnie reminded him he was Black and following an intense argument, he attacked her.

Minnie would Appear in Omaha newspapers once more time for battery. In May of 1904, Bradley was arrested for assault after her and Annie Curtis, described as another sex worker, got into an altercation. It was reported that Bradley was trying to help Curtis who was heavily intoxicated. Bradley, who was accused of throwing a brickbat, argued that she had not but if she did have a brick 'she would have certainly thrown it.'

In June of 1904, Minnie was once more arrested after being accused of robbing a man from out of town in the city's red-light district. She was last mentioned in the newspapers June 12, 1904. Following that arrest, there are no records of Minnie Bradley.