Civil Rights
369 facts
Dred Scott v. Sandford Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court.
Bloody Sunday in Selma
Civil rights marchers were brutally attacked by state troopers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, during a march for voting rights.
Emancipation Proclamation Takes Effect
President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation took effect, declaring enslaved people in Confederate states to be free.
Martin Luther King Jr. Born
Martin Luther King Jr., who would become the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement, was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
Malcolm X Assassinated
Malcolm X, influential Black nationalist leader and human rights advocate, was assassinated while speaking at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City.
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 39.
Brown v. Board of Education
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.
Juneteenth: Emancipation Reaches Texas
Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
March on Washington
Over 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Dr. King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.
Rosa Parks Refuses to Give Up Her Seat
Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Signed
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Jackie Robinson Breaks Baseball's Color Barrier
Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Tulsa Race Massacre Begins
A white mob attacked the prosperous Black neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, destroying "Black Wall Street."
Thurgood Marshall Confirmed to Supreme Court
Thurgood Marshall became the first African American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
14th Amendment Ratified
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting citizenship to all persons born in the United States.
Voting Rights Act Signed
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, outlawing discriminatory voting practices.
Loving v. Virginia Decision
The Supreme Court struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage in the landmark Loving v. Virginia case.
Little Rock Nine Integrate Central High School
Nine Black students integrated Little Rock Central High School under federal military escort.
Emmett Till's Body Recovered
The body of 14-year-old Emmett Till was recovered from the Tallahatchie River.
Emmett Till Murdered
Fourteen-year-old Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi after being accused of offending a white woman.
Harriet Tubman Escapes Slavery
Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery in Maryland, later becoming the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad.
Executive Order 9981 Desegregates Military
President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces.
Nelson Mandela Born
Anti-apartheid revolutionary and South African President Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo, South Africa.
Frederick Douglass Delivers "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"
Frederick Douglass delivered his famous speech questioning the meaning of Independence Day for enslaved people.
Loving v. Virginia
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously struck down laws banning interracial marriage in Loving v. Virginia.
Thurgood Marshall Sworn In as Supreme Court Justice
Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
Little Rock Nine Enroll
Nine Black students enrolled at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, under the protection of federal troops.
13th Amendment Ratified
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, abolishing slavery, was ratified.
Nelson Mandela Released from Prison
Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison in South Africa after 27 years of imprisonment.
Haitian Revolution Begins
The Haitian Revolution, the only successful large-scale slave revolt in history, began with an uprising in Saint-Domingue.
Dred Scott Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Dred Scott v. Sandford that African Americans were not citizens and had no right to sue in federal court.
Rosa Parks Arrested
Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Thurgood Marshall Confirmed as Supreme Court Justice
Thurgood Marshall was confirmed as the first African American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tulsa Race Massacre
A white mob destroyed the prosperous Greenwood District, known as "Black Wall Street," in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Harriet Tubman Born
Harriet Tubman, conductor on the Underground Railroad, was born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland.
Frederick Douglass Escapes Slavery
Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery in Baltimore, Maryland, disguised as a free Black sailor.
Civil Rights Act Signed
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved people in Confederate states to be free.
Little Rock Nine Enter Central High
The Little Rock Nine entered Central High School under the protection of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division.
Haiti Declares Independence
Haiti became the first Black republic and the second independent nation in the Western Hemisphere after a successful slave revolution.
South Africa Holds First Democratic Election
South Africa held its first fully democratic election, with Nelson Mandela winning the presidency.
Alex Trebek Features Black History on Jeopardy
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
Nelson Mandela Dies
Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid hero and first Black president of South Africa, died at age 95.
NAACP Founded Date
The NAACP was founded on Abraham Lincoln's 100th birthday by a multiracial group of activists.
Ogden Nash
The first documented arrival of enslaved Africans in English North America occurred at Point Comfort, Virginia.
Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed to Supreme Court
Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed as the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
George Floyd Murdered in Minneapolis
George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, sparking worldwide protests against racial injustice.
Kamala Harris Inaugurated as Vice President
Kamala Harris was inaugurated as the first Black, first South Asian, and first female Vice President of the United States.
Greensboro Sit-Ins Begin
Four Black college students sat down at a whites-only lunch counter at Woolworth's in Greensboro, North Carolina, launching a wave of sit-in protests.
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
A bomb planted by white supremacists at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killed four young girls.
W.E.B. Du Bois Born
W.E.B. Du Bois, pioneering sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist who co-founded the NAACP, was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Thurgood Marshall Born
Future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall was born in Baltimore, Maryland.
MOVE Bombing in Philadelphia
Philadelphia police dropped a bomb on the MOVE organization headquarters, killing 11 people and destroying 65 homes.
Malcolm X Born
Malcolm X, one of the most influential African American leaders, was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska.
Freedom Riders Attacked in Anniston
Freedom Riders were attacked by a white mob in Anniston, Alabama, and their bus was firebombed.
Ida B. Wells Born
Journalist and anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
Nat Turner Rebellion Begins
Nat Turner led the most significant slave rebellion in American history in Southampton County, Virginia.
Rosa Parks Born
Civil rights icon Rosa Parks was born in Tuskegee, Alabama.
Medgar Evers Assassinated
Civil rights leader Medgar Evers was assassinated outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi.
Shirley Chisholm Elected to Congress
Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress.
Ruby Bridges Integrates William Frantz Elementary
Six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South.
James Meredith Integrates University of Mississippi
James Meredith became the first Black student admitted to the University of Mississippi.
Marcus Garvey Born
Pan-Africanist leader Marcus Garvey was born in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica.
James Baldwin Born
Novelist, essayist, and civil rights commentator James Baldwin was born in Harlem, New York.
Mae Jemison Enters Space
Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to travel in space.
Stokely Carmichael Coins "Black Power"
Stokely Carmichael popularized the phrase "Black Power" during a rally in Greenwood, Mississippi.
Soweto Uprising
Black South African students protested being forced to learn in Afrikaans, leading to a violent crackdown that galvanized the anti-apartheid movement.
Shirley Chisholm Born
Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
Harriet Tubman Dies
Harriet Tubman, legendary conductor of the Underground Railroad, died in Auburn, New York.
Sharpeville Massacre
South African police killed 69 Black protesters in Sharpeville, a turning point in the anti-apartheid movement.
Hank Aaron Breaks Babe Ruth's Home Run Record
Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's all-time record despite receiving death threats throughout the pursuit.
Civil Rights Act of 1866 Passed
Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the first federal law to define U.S. citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law.
Sidney Poitier Wins Academy Award
Sidney Poitier became the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role in Lilies of the Field.
W.E.B. Du Bois Publishes The Souls of Black Folk
W.E.B. Du Bois published "The Souls of Black Folk," one of the most influential works in African American literature.
Shirley Chisholm Announces Presidential Campaign
Shirley Chisholm announced her candidacy for President of the United States, becoming the first Black major-party candidate.
Sojourner Truth Delivers "Ain't I a Woman" Speech
Sojourner Truth delivered her famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio.
SNCC Founded
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was founded at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Carter G. Woodson Born
Carter G. Woodson, the "Father of Black History," was born in New Canton, Virginia.
Slave Trade Abolished in British Empire
The British Parliament passed the Slave Trade Act, abolishing the transatlantic slave trade throughout the British Empire.
Fannie Lou Hamer Testifies Before DNC Credentials Committee
Fannie Lou Hamer testified before the Democratic National Convention credentials committee about the violence she faced trying to vote.
John Lewis Born
John Lewis, civil rights icon and longtime U.S. congressman, was born in Troy, Alabama.
Birmingham Campaign Begins
Martin Luther King Jr. and the SCLC launched the Birmingham Campaign against segregation in one of America's most racially divided cities.
Montgomery Bus Boycott Ends
The Montgomery Bus Boycott ended after 381 days when the Supreme Court ruled bus segregation unconstitutional.
Muhammad Ali Refuses Induction
Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War.
James Meredith Enrolls at Ole Miss
James Meredith became the first African American student admitted to the University of Mississippi.
Black Panther Party Founded
Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in Oakland, California.
Desmond Tutu Wins Nobel Peace Prize
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent campaign against apartheid.
Central High School Crisis Begins
Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus ordered the National Guard to prevent nine Black students from entering Central High School in Little Rock.
W.E.B. Du Bois Dies
W.E.B. Du Bois, scholar, activist, and co-founder of the NAACP, died in Accra, Ghana, at age 95.
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner led the most significant slave rebellion in American history in Southampton County, Virginia.
Ruby Bridges Integrates School
Six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first African American child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South.
Marian Anderson Sings at Lincoln Memorial
Marian Anderson performed a legendary concert at the Lincoln Memorial after being denied permission to sing at Constitution Hall.
Phillis Wheatley Publishes Poems
Phillis Wheatley became the first African American and one of the first women to publish a book of poetry in America.
Hank Aaron Breaks Babe Ruth's Record
Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth's all-time record.
Greensboro Sit-Ins
Four African American college students staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Freedom Riders Attacked
Freedom Riders were attacked by mobs in Anniston and Birmingham, Alabama, while testing desegregation on interstate buses.
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.
Tuskegee Syphilis Study Exposed
The Associated Press exposed the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, in which the U.S. government had left hundreds of Black men untreated for syphilis for 40 years.
Sojourner Truth Delivers "Ain't I a Woman?" Speech
Sojourner Truth delivered her famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio.
Hiram Revels Becomes First Black U.S. Senator
Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Carter G. Woodson Creates Negro History Week
Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week, which later became Black History Month.
Shirley Chisholm Runs for President
Shirley Chisholm became the first woman and first African American to seek a major party's presidential nomination.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos Raise Fists
Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a Black Power salute at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Ghana Gains Independence
Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule.
Selma to Montgomery Marches Conclude
The third Selma to Montgomery march concluded with 25,000 marchers arriving at the Alabama State Capitol.
Toussaint Louverture Born
Toussaint Louverture, leader of the Haitian Revolution, was born into slavery in Saint-Domingue (Haiti).
Apartheid Ends in South Africa
South African President F.W. de Klerk announced the end of the ban on the ANC and other anti-apartheid organizations.
Mamie Till-Mobley Holds Open Casket Funeral
Mamie Till-Mobley held an open-casket funeral for her son Emmett Till, exposing the brutality of racial violence to the nation.
Emmett Till's Murderers Acquitted
An all-white jury acquitted Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam of the murder of Emmett Till after deliberating for just 67 minutes.
Great Migration Begins
The Great Migration began as African Americans started leaving the South for Northern and Western cities in unprecedented numbers.
Frederick Douglass Delivers "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" Speech
Frederick Douglass delivered one of the most powerful speeches in American history, challenging the nation's celebration of freedom while enslaving millions.
Martin Luther King Jr. Writes Letter from Birmingham Jail
Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail," defending nonviolent resistance to injustice.
Reconstruction Ends
Federal troops withdrew from the South as part of the Compromise of 1877, ending Reconstruction and beginning the era of Jim Crow.
Sojourner Truth Born
Sojourner Truth, abolitionist and women's rights activist, was born into slavery as Isabella Baumfree in Swartekill, New York.
Red Summer Begins
The "Red Summer" of 1919 saw race riots and white mob violence against Black communities in more than three dozen cities across the United States.
Nelson Mandela Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle apartheid.
George Floyd Protests Begin Worldwide
Protests against police brutality and racial injustice spread to all 50 states and over 60 countries following George Floyd's death.
Franklin and Armfield Slave Trading Firm
The Transatlantic slave trade was formally abolished by Britain with the passage of the Slave Trade Act.
Carter G. Woodson Founds Negro History Week
Carter G. Woodson launched the first Negro History Week, the precursor to Black History Month.
Black Lives Matter Founded
Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi founded the Black Lives Matter movement after the acquittal of George Zimmerman.
Derek Chauvin Convicted of Murder
Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd, a rare conviction of a police officer.
Colin Kaepernick Takes a Knee
Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality, sparking a nationwide movement.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History Opens
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Charleston Church Shooting
Nine Black churchgoers were murdered during Bible study at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Juneteenth Becomes Federal Holiday
President Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday, the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Trayvon Martin Killed in Sanford, Florida
Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Black teenager, was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida.
John Lewis Dies
John Lewis, civil rights icon and U.S. congressman, died at age 80 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Toni Morrison Dies
Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize-winning novelist and one of the most important American writers, died at age 88.
Million Man March
Hundreds of thousands of Black men gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the Million Man March, organized by Louis Farrakhan.
Founding of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Thurgood Marshall founded the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund as a separate entity to fight racial injustice through the courts.
Buffalo Soldiers Established
Congress authorized the creation of six all-Black Army regiments, whose members became known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
NAACP Founded
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People held its first national conference in New York City.
Arthur Ashe Wins Wimbledon
Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to win the Wimbledon singles title.
Mary McLeod Bethune Born
Educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune was born in Mayesville, South Carolina.
Emmett Till Born
Emmett Louis Till, whose murder would galvanize the civil rights movement, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Birmingham Campaign Agreement
Civil rights leaders and Birmingham business leaders reached an agreement to desegregate lunch counters and improve employment for Black residents.
Denmark Vesey's Planned Slave Revolt Discovered
The planned slave uprising organized by Denmark Vesey in Charleston, South Carolina, was betrayed before it could begin.
Nat Turner Born
Nat Turner, leader of the most significant slave rebellion in American history, was born in Southampton County, Virginia.
Sojourner Truth Dies
Sojourner Truth, legendary abolitionist and women's rights activist, died in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Watts Riots Begin
The Watts Riots erupted in Los Angeles after a traffic stop involving a Black motorist.
Robert Smalls Commandeers Confederate Ship
Enslaved pilot Robert Smalls commandeered a Confederate military vessel and sailed it to freedom.
Madame C.J. Walker Born
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Madame C.J. Walker, America's first female self-made millionaire, was born.
Memphis Free Speech Newspaper Destroyed
Ida B. Wells' newspaper was destroyed by a white mob after her anti-lynching editorials.
National Urban League Founded
The National Urban League was founded to support African Americans in achieving economic equality.
A. Philip Randolph Plans March on Washington Movement
A. Philip Randolph planned the March on Washington Movement to demand fair employment.
Coretta Scott King Born
Coretta Scott King, civil rights leader and wife of Martin Luther King Jr., was born in Marion, Alabama.
Paul Robeson Born
Paul Robeson, athlete, singer, actor, and political activist, was born in Princeton, New Jersey.
James Meredith Shot During March Against Fear
James Meredith was shot during his solo March Against Fear from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi.
Bessie Coleman Earns Pilot License
Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman and first Native American to earn an international pilot's license.
Rosa Parks Dies
Rosa Parks, the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement," died in Detroit at age 92.
Henrietta Lacks Dies
Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cancer; cells taken from her without consent became the first immortal human cell line, revolutionizing medicine.
John Brown Executed
Abolitionist John Brown was executed for his raid on Harpers Ferry, an act intended to spark a slave rebellion.
Medgar Evers Born
Medgar Evers, NAACP field secretary whose assassination galvanized the civil rights movement, was born in Decatur, Mississippi.
Jesse Jackson Born
Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and two-time presidential candidate, was born in Greenville, South Carolina.
March on Washington Planned
A. Philip Randolph first proposed a march on Washington to protest discrimination in defense industries.
Scottsboro Boys Arrested
Nine African American teenagers were arrested in Alabama and falsely accused of assaulting two white women.
Barbara Jordan Born
Barbara Jordan, the first African American elected to the Texas Senate and a powerful voice in Congress, was born in Houston.
Bessie Coleman Gets Pilot License
Bessie Coleman became the first African American woman and first Native American woman to hold a pilot's license.
Harlem Renaissance Begins
The publication of Claude McKay's poem "If We Must Die" marked a key moment in the Harlem Renaissance.
Charles Drew Born
Charles Drew, pioneer of blood banking who saved countless lives, was born in Washington, D.C.
Robert Smalls Captures Confederate Ship
Robert Smalls, an enslaved man, commandeered a Confederate military vessel and sailed it to freedom.
Harriet Beecher Stowe Publishes Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe published "Uncle Tom's Cabin," a novel that galvanized anti-slavery sentiment in the North.
Wilma Rudolph Wins Three Olympic Golds
Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games.
Madam C.J. Walker Born
Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire in America, was born as Sarah Breedlove in Delta, Louisiana.
Althea Gibson Wins Wimbledon
Althea Gibson became the first African American to win a Grand Slam tennis title at Wimbledon.
Reconstruction Begins
Congress passed the first Reconstruction Act, dividing the former Confederate states into five military districts.
Ralph Bunche Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Ralph Bunche became the first African American to win the Nobel Peace Prize, for mediating the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Stevie Wonder Born
Stevie Wonder, musician and songwriter who became one of the most successful artists of the 20th century, was born in Saginaw, Michigan.
Hattie McDaniel Wins Oscar
Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award, for her role in "Gone with the Wind."
Marvin Gaye Born
Marvin Gaye, singer and songwriter whose album "What's Going On" addressed social issues facing Black America, was born in Washington, D.C.
A. Philip Randolph Born
A. Philip Randolph, labor leader and organizer of the March on Washington, was born in Crescent City, Florida.
Bayard Rustin Born
Bayard Rustin, chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington and advocate of nonviolent resistance, was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
James Weldon Johnson Born
James Weldon Johnson, author, diplomat, and civil rights leader who wrote "Lift Every Voice and Sing," was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
Pauli Murray Born
Pauli Murray, civil rights activist, lawyer, poet, and first African American woman ordained as an Episcopal priest, was born in Baltimore, Maryland.
Nina Simone Born
Nina Simone, singer, pianist, and civil rights activist known as the "High Priestess of Soul," was born in Tryon, North Carolina.
Detroit Race Riot of 1967
A police raid on an after-hours club sparked five days of civil unrest in Detroit, one of the most destructive in U.S. history.
Watts Rebellion Begins
Racial tensions exploded in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles after a traffic stop of a Black motorist.
Carol Moseley Braun Elected to Senate
Carol Moseley Braun became the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
Ella Baker Born
Ella Baker, civil rights organizer who mentored a generation of activists, was born in Norfolk, Virginia.
Marsha P. Johnson and Stonewall
Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman, was a key figure in the Stonewall uprising that launched the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Tamir Rice Killed
Twelve-year-old Tamir Rice was fatally shot by a Cleveland police officer while playing with a toy gun in a park.
Fugitive Slave Act Passed
Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, requiring citizens to assist in the capture of runaway enslaved people.
Charles Hamilton Houston Born
Charles Hamilton Houston, the legal architect of the civil rights movement, was born in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler Graduates
Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States.
Eric Garner Killed
Eric Garner died after being placed in a chokehold by a New York City police officer during an arrest on Staten Island.
Kwame Nkrumah Born
Kwame Nkrumah, leader of Ghana's independence movement and first president, was born in Nkroful, Gold Coast.
Patrice Lumumba Assassinated
Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected leader of the Congo, was assassinated.
Jack Johnson Wins Heavyweight Title
Jack Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion.
Muhammad Ali Dies
Muhammad Ali, heavyweight boxing champion, activist, and cultural icon, died at age 74 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Joe Louis Defeats Max Schmeling
Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch, a bout with enormous racial and political significance.
Constance Baker Motley Becomes Federal Judge
Constance Baker Motley became the first African American woman appointed as a federal judge.
Ella Baker Founds SNCC
Ella Baker organized the conference at Shaw University that led to the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
Robert Smalls Born
Robert Smalls, Civil War hero and U.S. Congressman who escaped slavery by stealing a Confederate ship, was born in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Richard Allen Founded AME Church
Richard Allen established the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first independent Black denomination in America.
John H. Johnson Founded Johnson Publishing
John H. Johnson founded Johnson Publishing Company, publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines.
Mahalia Jackson Born
Mahalia Jackson, the "Queen of Gospel," was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Amistad Revolt
Enslaved Africans aboard the ship La Amistad seized control of the vessel off the coast of Cuba.
Frantz Fanon Born
Frantz Fanon, psychiatrist and revolutionary theorist whose writings influenced anti-colonial movements, was born in Martinique.
Alice Coachman Wins Olympic Gold
Alice Coachman became the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal.
Kenneth and Mamie Clark Conduct Doll Test
Psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark conducted their famous doll studies demonstrating the harmful effects of segregation on Black children.
South Africa Wins Rugby World Cup Under Mandela
South Africa won the Rugby World Cup, with President Nelson Mandela presenting the trophy wearing a Springbok jersey, symbolizing racial reconciliation.
Mandela Signs South African Constitution
Nelson Mandela signed South Africa's new constitution, one of the most progressive in the world.
John Lewis Dies
John Lewis, civil rights icon and longtime congressman, died at age 80 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Elaine Massacre
White mobs killed an estimated 100 to 237 African Americans in Elaine, Arkansas, in one of the worst racial massacres in U.S. history.
Rosewood Massacre
A white mob destroyed the predominantly Black town of Rosewood, Florida, killing at least six African Americans.
Lorraine Hansberry Born
Lorraine Hansberry, playwright of "A Raisin in the Sun," the first play by an African American woman produced on Broadway, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
24th Amendment Ratified
The 24th Amendment was ratified, prohibiting poll taxes in federal elections.
Canada Abolishes Slavery
The British Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act, which abolished slavery throughout the British Empire including Canada.
Alice Walker Born
Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple" and first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, was born in Eatonton, Georgia.
Elizabeth Taylor Challenges AIDS Stigma
Marian Anderson performed at the Metropolitan Opera, becoming the first African American to sing a lead role there.
National Black History Month Established
President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month during the nation's bicentennial.
James Weldon Johnson Writes Lift Every Voice
James Weldon Johnson and his brother J. Rosamond Johnson debuted "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Fugitive Slave Act Resistance
Abolitionist Harriet Tubman began her work on the Underground Railroad, making her first rescue trip to Maryland.
James Baldwin Dies
James Baldwin, one of the most important writers of the 20th century, died in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France.
Missouri Compromise Enacted
Congress passed the Missouri Compromise, admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while banning slavery north of the 36°30' parallel.
Russwurm and Cornish Publish Freedom's Journal
Freedom's Journal, the first African American-owned newspaper, published its inaugural issue in New York City.
Althea Gibson Born
Althea Gibson, the first African American to win a Grand Slam tennis title, was born in Silver, South Carolina.
Constance Baker Motley Born
Constance Baker Motley, civil rights lawyer and first African American woman federal judge, was born in New Haven, Connecticut.
Jackie Robinson Dies
Jackie Robinson died at age 53 in Stamford, Connecticut.
Langston Hughes Dies
Langston Hughes, Harlem Renaissance poet and author, died in New York City at age 65.
First Black Mayor of Major U.S. City
Carl Stokes was elected mayor of Cleveland, becoming the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city.
Kwame Ture Born
Stokely Carmichael (later Kwame Ture), who popularized the phrase "Black Power," was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Toussaint Louverture Dies
Toussaint Louverture, leader of the Haitian Revolution, died in a French prison.
Voltaire and Frederick Douglass
The North Star, Frederick Douglass's abolitionist newspaper, published its first issue in Rochester, New York.
Sam Cooke Shot and Killed
Sam Cooke, the "King of Soul," was shot and killed in Los Angeles at age 33.
Raphael Warnock Elected to U.S. Senate
Raphael Warnock became the first Black senator from Georgia, winning a runoff election.
Chadwick Boseman Dies
Chadwick Boseman, star of "Black Panther," died of colon cancer at age 43.
Breonna Taylor Killed in Louisville
Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was shot and killed by Louisville police during a no-knock raid on her apartment.
Ahmaud Arbery's Killers Convicted
Three men were convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was chased and shot while jogging in Georgia.
Nikole Hannah-Jones Wins Pulitzer for 1619 Project
Nikole Hannah-Jones won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for her work on The 1619 Project.
Beyoncé's Lemonade Released
Beyoncé released her visual album "Lemonade," a groundbreaking exploration of Black womanhood, infidelity, and resilience.
Ta-Nehisi Coates Publishes Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates published "Between the World and Me," a landmark letter to his son about being Black in America.
Tyre Nichols Killed by Memphis Police
Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, died three days after being severely beaten by Memphis police officers during a traffic stop.
Selma 50th Anniversary March
President Obama and civil rights leaders marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, to mark the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
Philando Castile Killed During Traffic Stop
Philando Castile, a 32-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota.
Josephine Baker Born
Entertainer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
Race Riots in East St. Louis
A devastating race riot erupted in East St. Louis, Illinois, killing dozens of African Americans.
Port Chicago Disaster
An explosion at Port Chicago naval base killed 320 men, two-thirds of whom were Black sailors loading ammunition.
Niagara Movement Founded
W.E.B. Du Bois and other Black intellectuals formed the Niagara Movement to demand full civil rights for African Americans.
Stokely Carmichael Born
Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), who popularized the phrase "Black Power," was born in Trinidad.
First African Baptist Church Founded
The First African Baptist Church was established in Savannah, Georgia, one of the oldest Black churches in North America.
Fugitive Slave Anthony Burns Arrested in Boston
The arrest and trial of fugitive slave Anthony Burns in Boston sparked massive protests and deepened Northern opposition to slavery.
First Black Owned Newspaper Published
Freedom's Journal, the first African American-owned and operated newspaper, published its final issue.
Fugitive Slave Act Debates Intensify
Congress debated the Fugitive Slave Act, strengthening enforcement of slavery.
Andrew Young Elected to Congress
Andrew Young became the first African American congressman from Georgia since Reconstruction.
Denmark Vesey Executed
Denmark Vesey, a formerly enslaved man, was executed for organizing what would have been one of the largest slave revolts in U.S. history.
Dorothy Height Born
Dorothy Height, civil rights and women's rights leader, was born in Richmond, Virginia.
Million Woman March
Hundreds of thousands of African American women gathered in Philadelphia for the Million Woman March.
Elijah Muhammad Born
Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam for over 40 years, was born in Sandersville, Georgia.
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Elected to Congress
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. became the first African American from New York elected to Congress.
Mary Church Terrell Born
Mary Church Terrell, activist, educator, and first president of the National Association of Colored Women, was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
Denmark Vesey's Planned Rebellion Discovered
Denmark Vesey's planned slave revolt in Charleston, South Carolina, was betrayed before it could be carried out.
Claudette Colvin Refuses to Give Up Bus Seat
Fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus nine months before Rosa Parks.
Septima Clark Born
Septima Clark, educator who created citizenship schools that taught literacy for voter registration, was born in Charleston, South Carolina.
Lena Horne Born
Lena Horne, singer, actress, and civil rights activist, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
Tulsa Race Massacre Victims Found
Researchers discovered a mass grave in Tulsa believed to contain victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Edward Brooke Elected to Senate
Edward Brooke became the first African American popularly elected to the U.S. Senate.
Dorothy Irene Height Dies
Dorothy Height, civil rights and women's rights leader, died at age 98 in Washington, D.C.
Diane Nash Born
Diane Nash, leader of the Nashville sit-ins and Freedom Rides, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Madam C.J. Walker Builds Factory
Madam C.J. Walker opened a factory in Indianapolis for her hair care products, becoming one of the nation's most successful Black entrepreneurs.
John Hope Franklin Born
John Hope Franklin, historian whose "From Slavery to Freedom" became the definitive text on African American history, was born in Rentiesville, Oklahoma.
Ruby Dee Born
Ruby Dee, actress and civil rights activist, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
Phillis Wheatley Dies
Poet Phillis Wheatley, the first African American to publish a book of poetry, died in Boston at approximately age 31.
Robert Abbott Founds the Chicago Defender
Robert Abbott founded the Chicago Defender, which became the most influential Black newspaper in the nation.
Blanche Bruce Elected to Senate
Blanche Bruce became the first African American to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate.
Amiri Baraka Born
Amiri Baraka, poet, playwright, and Black Arts Movement leader, was born as LeRoi Jones in Newark, New Jersey.
First Black Church in America Founded
The Silver Bluff Baptist Church was established in South Carolina, considered among the first Black churches in America.
Denmark Vesey Born
Denmark Vesey, who organized one of the largest planned slave revolts in U.S. history, was born in the Caribbean.
LeBron James Born
LeBron James, one of the greatest basketball players in history, was born in Akron, Ohio.
Claudia Jones Born
Claudia Jones, Trinidadian-born activist who founded the Notting Hill Carnival, was born in Belmont, Trinidad.
Mary Jackson Becomes NASA's First Black Female Engineer
Mary Jackson became NASA's first Black female engineer after a legal petition to attend segregated classes.
Dorothy Vaughan Becomes NASA's First Black Supervisor
Dorothy Vaughan became the first African American supervisor at what would become NASA.
Black Star Line Launched
Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line made its maiden voyage, representing economic independence for the African diaspora.
Ossie Davis Born
Ossie Davis, actor, director, playwright, and civil rights activist, was born in Cogdell, Georgia.
Venus Williams Born
Venus Williams, tennis champion and businesswoman, was born in Lynwood, California.
Stacey Abrams Born
Stacey Abrams, voting rights activist and politician, was born in Madison, Wisconsin.
First African Free School Opens
The first free school for African American children opened in New York City.
Claudette Colvin Born
Claudette Colvin, who refused to give up her bus seat nine months before Rosa Parks, was born in Montgomery, Alabama.
Daisy Bates Born
Daisy Bates, journalist and civil rights leader who mentored the Little Rock Nine, was born in Huttig, Arkansas.
Oliver Hill Born
Oliver Hill, civil rights attorney who helped end school segregation, was born in Richmond, Virginia.
Bass Reeves Born
Bass Reeves, the first Black deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi, was born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas.
Sonia Sanchez Born
Sonia Sanchez, poet and leading figure of the Black Arts Movement, was born in Birmingham, Alabama.
Angola Three Imprisoned
Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox, and Robert King were placed in solitary confinement at the Louisiana State Penitentiary.
Henrietta Lacks Born
Henrietta Lacks, whose cells revolutionized medical research, was born in Roanoke, Virginia.
Abner Louima Brutalized by Police
Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant, was brutally assaulted by NYPD officers in a Brooklyn police station.
Aimé Césaire Born
Aimé Césaire, poet and politician who co-founded the Négritude literary movement, was born in Basse-Pointe, Martinique.
Audre Lorde Born
Audre Lorde, poet, essayist, and activist who described herself as a "Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet," was born in New York City.
John Brown Born
John Brown, abolitionist who led the raid on Harpers Ferry, was born in Torrington, Connecticut.
Dred Scott Born
Dred Scott, enslaved man whose lawsuit for freedom reached the Supreme Court, was born in Southampton County, Virginia.
Marian Wright Edelman Born
Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children's Defense Fund, was born in Bennettsville, South Carolina.
Nikki Giovanni Born
Nikki Giovanni, poet, activist, and professor known as the "Princess of Black Poetry," was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Eric Holder Becomes Attorney General
Eric Holder was sworn in as the first African American U.S. Attorney General.
Celia, Enslaved Woman, Executed
Celia, a 19-year-old enslaved woman, was executed in Missouri for killing her enslaver who had repeatedly raped her.
First Pan-African Congress
W.E.B. Du Bois organized the First Pan-African Congress in Paris, advocating for the rights of Africans and people of African descent.
First African American Oscar Nominee
Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award, for "Gone with the Wind."
Madam C.J. Walker Dies
Madam C.J. Walker, America's first female self-made millionaire, died at her estate in Irvington, New York.
Ralph Abernathy Born
Ralph Abernathy, Martin Luther King Jr.'s closest friend and co-leader of the civil rights movement, was born in Linden, Alabama.
Jesse Owens Dies
Jesse Owens, four-time Olympic gold medalist who defied Nazi ideology, died in Tucson, Arizona.
Josephine Baker Refuses to Perform for Segregated Audiences
Josephine Baker refused to perform for segregated audiences during her U.S. tour, helping to desegregate several venues.
First National Negro Convention
The first National Negro Convention was held in Philadelphia, bringing together free Black leaders to discuss abolition and civil rights.
Bayard Rustin Organizes Journey of Reconciliation
Bayard Rustin and other civil rights activists began the Journey of Reconciliation, a precursor to the Freedom Rides.
Jack Johnson Born
Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion, was born in Galveston, Texas.
Tuskegee Airmen Awarded Congressional Gold Medal
President George W. Bush awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen.
Robert F. Kennedy Assassinated
Robert F. Kennedy, who had become a champion of civil rights, was assassinated in Los Angeles.
Haiti Founded as Republic
Byron De La Beckwith was convicted of the 1963 murder of Medgar Evers, 31 years after the crime.
Emmett Till Justice Act Signed
President Biden signed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, making lynching a federal hate crime.
West Virginia State College v. Brewster
The Supreme Court ruled that the University of Texas must admit Heman Marion Sweatt to its law school.
Kwame Ture Dies
Kwame Ture (formerly Stokely Carmichael), who popularized the phrase "Black Power," died in Guinea at age 57.
Phillis Wheatley Arrives in Boston
A young girl from West Africa, later named Phillis Wheatley, arrived in Boston on a slave ship.
Andrew Young Born
Andrew Young, civil rights leader, congressman, UN ambassador, and mayor of Atlanta, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Nat King Cole Born
Nat King Cole, singer and television pioneer, was born in Montgomery, Alabama.
Madam C.J. Walker Addresses National Negro Business League
Madam C.J. Walker spoke at the National Negro Business League convention, declaring herself a self-made woman.
Jackie Robinson Retires from Baseball
Jackie Robinson announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after 10 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Jack Johnson Defeats Jim Jeffries
Jack Johnson defended his heavyweight title against Jim Jeffries, the "Great White Hope," sparking race riots across America.
Cornel West Born
Cornel West, philosopher, activist, and public intellectual, was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Artis Gilmore Born
The first Black graduate of West Point, Henry O. Flipper, was born in Thomasville, Georgia.
Hinton Rowan Helper Published
Charlotte E. Ray became the first African American woman admitted to a bar association and to practice law.
Calvin Coolidge Grants Citizenship to Native Americans
Nathaniel "Nat" Turner was born into slavery in Southampton County, Virginia.
Rembrandt Peale Paints Absalom Jones
Absalom Jones, the first African American to be ordained as an Episcopal priest, was born into slavery in Sussex, Delaware.
J.K. Rowling Born
Whitney M. Young Jr., civil rights leader and executive director of the National Urban League, was born in Lincoln Ridge, Kentucky.
Nate Parker Born
Max Robinson became the first African American network news anchor when he joined ABC World News Tonight.
Montford Point Marines Established
The first African Americans to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps began training at Montford Point, North Carolina.
Winnie Mandela Born
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, anti-apartheid activist and former wife of Nelson Mandela, was born in Bizana, South Africa.
Bobby Seale Born
Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, was born in Dallas, Texas.
Eleanor Roosevelt Resigns from DAR
Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution after they refused to allow Marian Anderson to perform at Constitution Hall.
First Black Rhodes Scholar
Alain Locke became the first African American to be named a Rhodes Scholar.
Josephine Baker Dies
Josephine Baker, entertainer and civil rights activist, died in Paris at age 68.
Ernie Davis Wins Heisman Trophy
Ernie Davis became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy.
Claudia McNeil Born
The first African American woman to earn a PhD, Georgiana Rose Simpson, was awarded her doctorate from the University of Chicago.
John Hope Franklin Dies
John Hope Franklin, historian and author of "From Slavery to Freedom," died in Durham, North Carolina, at age 94.
Stacey Abrams Founds Fair Fight
Stacey Abrams founded Fair Fight Action to address voter suppression after the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election.
Naomi Osaka Wins U.S. Open with Protest Masks
Naomi Osaka wore face masks honoring Black victims of violence during each round of the 2020 U.S. Open, which she won.
Misty Copeland Named Principal Dancer at ABT
Misty Copeland became the first African American woman to be named a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre.
Ava DuVernay's 13th Released on Netflix
Ava DuVernay's documentary "13th," examining mass incarceration and its roots in slavery, premiered on Netflix.
Nipsey Hussle Murdered in Los Angeles
Nipsey Hussle, rapper and community activist, was fatally shot outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles.
Cicely Tyson Dies
Cicely Tyson, pioneering actress who broke barriers for Black women in Hollywood, died at age 96.
Daunte Wright Killed During Traffic Stop
Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
12 Years a Slave Wins Best Picture
12 Years a Slave won the Academy Award for Best Picture, making Steve McQueen the first Black filmmaker to win the award.
Sandra Bland Dies in Texas Jail
Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old Black woman, was found dead in her jail cell three days after a contentious traffic stop in Waller County, Texas.
First African American Army Nurses Arrive Overseas
The first unit of African American Army nurses arrived in England during World War II.
Myrlie Evers-Williams Becomes NAACP Chair
Myrlie Evers-Williams was elected chairman of the NAACP board, helping revitalize the organization.
Clara Hale Born
Clara "Mother" Hale, who cared for hundreds of drug-addicted and HIV-positive babies, was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Mavis Staples Born
Mavis Staples, gospel and soul singer who performed with the Staple Singers, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
South Africa Readmitted to Olympics
South Africa returned to the Olympic Games after being banned for 28 years due to apartheid.
Bud Billiken Parade First Held
The Bud Billiken Parade, the largest African American parade in the United States, was first held in Chicago.
Phyllis Wheatley Meets George Washington
Phillis Wheatley visited General George Washington at his Cambridge headquarters after writing a poem in his honor.
Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson Signs Civil Rights Act
The first African American graduate of a Southern white medical school completed studies at the University of Arkansas.
Claudia Rankine Born
Claudia Rankine, poet and author of "Citizen: An American Lyric," was born in Kingston, Jamaica.
Elvis Presley Born
Elvis Presley, who drew heavily from African American blues and gospel traditions, was born in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Tippi Hedren Launches Nail Industry for Vietnamese Refugees
The first African American-owned bank, the Freedman's Savings Bank, was chartered by Congress.
Balm of Gilead Founded
Mary Lena Lewis Tate became one of the first Black women to found a Christian denomination in the United States.
Wilma Mankiller Inaugurated as Cherokee Chief
The first Black-owned insurance company, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance, was incorporated.
Amiri Baraka Dies
Amiri Baraka, poet and Black Arts Movement leader, died at age 79 in Newark, New Jersey.
Mary Frances Berry Born
Mary Frances Berry, civil rights activist, historian, and chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, was born in Nashville, Tennessee.
Audley Moore Born
Queen Mother Audley Moore, Pan-Africanist and reparations advocate, was born in New Iberia, Louisiana.
Dorothy Height Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom
Dorothy Height received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Clinton.
H. Rap Brown Born
H. Rap Brown (later Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin), SNCC chairman and Black Power advocate, was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Eslanda Goode Robeson Born
Eslanda Goode Robeson, anthropologist, author, and civil rights activist married to Paul Robeson, was born in Washington, D.C.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Born
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court justice who cited Pauli Murray's civil rights work in her gender equality arguments, was born in Brooklyn.
Wyatt Tee Walker Born
Wyatt Tee Walker, civil rights strategist who designed the Birmingham Campaign, was born in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Commodore Perry Opens Japan
The first known African American jockey, Oliver Lewis, won the first Kentucky Derby on Aristides.
Wild Bill Hickok and Bass Reeves
The first African American heavyweight champion of the world, Tom Molineaux, fought his famous match against Tom Cribb in London.
Lucy Parsons Born
Lucy Parsons, labor organizer and radical activist of African American, Mexican, and Native American descent, was born in Texas.
Ed Bradley Born
Ed Bradley, pioneering journalist and longtime correspondent for "60 Minutes," was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Freedom's Journal Founded
Freedom's Journal ceased publication after two years, having established the tradition of the African American press.
Ruby Dee Dies
Ruby Dee, actress and civil rights activist, died at age 91 in New Rochelle, New York.
Cori Bush Elected to Congress
Cori Bush, a Ferguson protest leader, was elected to Congress from Missouri's 1st District.
African American History Museum Passes 10 Million Visitors
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture surpassed 10 million visitors since its 2016 opening.
Marquis de Lafayette Advocates for Black Freedom
The Marquis de Lafayette, inspired by the American Revolution, purchased a plantation in French Guiana to free the enslaved workers as an experiment in emancipation.