Malcolm D. Chambers, Ernie's father, moves to Omaha with his parents, Samuel and Emma, and brothers and sister from Lowndes County, Mississippi. Malcolm is listed as a 12-year-old newsboy in the 1920 Omaha census.

Ernest W. Chambers is born in Omaha on July 10. His mother, who cleaned houses, is originally from Rayville, Louisiana.

He graduates from Creighton University with a bachelor of arts degree in history and minors in Spanish and philosophy.

Chambers, 25, marries Jacklyn A. Hunter, 22, in Papillion. They have four children, Mark, Gayla, Ernie Jr. and David.

At a "Black Power Teach-in" at the University of Nebraska, Chambers delivers a lengthy statement condemning religion, Omaha laws, courts, Omaha Mayor A.D. Sorensen and the Omaha Police Department. He asks why Sorensen can say "Negroes can live anywhere in the city they want" and then turn around and ask for open housing legislation.

He appears in the documentary "A Time for Burning" and becomes a sought-after civil rights speaker across the country.

Speaking at a Black power conference at Grinnell College in Iowa, Chambers is quoted as saying Black power is "a well-loaded gun in the hands of a Black man who knows who his enemy is. ... I'm looking for revenge however I can get it."

Chambers, 33, is elected to the Nebraska Legislature, replacing incumbent George Althouse, 69, in the 11th District. During the campaign, he lists these areas to address in the Legislature: education, prison reform, drugs and lowering the voting age to 18.

Petition candidate Chambers runs for Nebraska governor, saying that if he is elected, "you will see Nebraska take off like a jet plane toward social justice and equality before the law." He does not win.

Chambers succeeds in getting “Little Black Sambo” removed from public school libraries in the state.

Chambers completes his law degree at Creighton University after a new dean of the law school offers to let him come back tuition-free to finish. He had left when the school refused to let him finish because of absences, even though, he says, he passed all of his exams. He believes the school didn't like his political activities and clashes with the police, housing authority, schools and mayor. He says he will use his law degree to help people who have unpopular causes but no money.

The Legislature passes a resolution, sponsored by Chambers and Sen. Steve Fowler of Lincoln, to withdraw about $25 million in state funds from investment in companies that had interests in South Africa. It turns out to be a national trend.

Chambers' bill that would pay a stipend to football players is vetoed by Gov. Kay Orr.

Chambers introduces a bill that would require police to corroborate visual observations on a car's speed with radar or electronic proof, instead of leaving the choice up to officers. Chambers, who drives back and forth to Lincoln from Omaha frequently, had been charged with speeding on at least four occasions and had challenged the accuracy of speedometer measurements.

Chambers runs for governor as a write-in candidate, describing himself as a person who doesn't seek favors from anyone, has total independence, stands firm and never hedges or disguises what he believes. He gets about 5,000 votes, but only about half of those are counted, because the other write-ins didn't include a running mate.

Chambers testifies before the House Judiciary Committee of Congress, wearing a purple sweatshirt, as part of a delegation of five legislators from various states giving their views on a bill dealing with same-sex marriage.

Nebraska voters pass Initiative 415, imposing a limit of no more than two consecutive terms for state legislators. The limits apply to service after Jan. 1, 2001, so the first election in which term-limited senators are unable to run is 2006. Chambers says the law was passed specifically to get rid of him.

After Ernie Chambers was removed from the legislature ue to term limits, he was elected to the Douglas County Learning Community Board where he served as chair for four years. 

2007 -- Chambers sues God to prove a point about frivolous lawsuits. Alas, the defendant does not respond.

Ernie Chambers unsuccessfully runs for Douglas County Commissioner. 

2013 -- Chambers returns for two more terms, and again is term-limited, effective Jan. 6, 2021.