April 4
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
On April 4, 1968, Dr. King was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. He had traveled to Memphis to support striking sanitation workers. His death sparked riots in more than 100 cities and led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. The Lorraine Motel is now the National Civil Rights Museum.
Maya Angelou Born
Born April 4, 1928, Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1969) was a landmark autobiography. She recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Clinton's 1993 inauguration.
Muddy Waters Born
Born April 4, 1913, McKinley Morganfield (Muddy Waters) transformed rural Delta blues into the amplified Chicago blues that became the foundation of rock and roll. His music influenced the Rolling Stones (who named themselves after his song), Led Zeppelin, and Eric Clapton.
Senegal Gains Independence
On April 4, 1960, Senegal declared independence from France. Léopold Sédar Senghor, a poet and intellectual who co-founded the Négritude movement, became its first president and served until 1980.
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Civil Rights Movement Ends
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. marked a significant turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.