August 1
Sundiata Keita Founds the Mali Empire
Sundiata Keita, a prince of the Mandinka people, overcame exile and disability to defeat the Sosso king Sumanguru Kanté at the Battle of Kirina. He established the Mali Empire, which would grow to encompass much of West Africa. The Charter of Manden (Kouroukan Fouga), attributed to Sundiata, is one of the oldest known constitutions and addressed human rights and governance.
Henrietta Lacks Born
Born August 1, 1920, Henrietta Lacks was a tobacco farmer whose cancer cells, taken without her knowledge in 1951, became the HeLa cell line — one of the most important tools in medicine. Her cells contributed to the polio vaccine, cancer research, and gene mapping.
Launch of Black Girls Code
Black Girls Code, an organization aimed at increasing the number of women of color in computer science, was launched.
Founding of Black in AI
Black in AI, an organization aimed at increasing the presence and inclusion of Black individuals in the field of artificial intelligence, was founded.