March 25
Aretha Franklin Born
Born March 25, 1942, Aretha Franklin became one of the most honored artists in Grammy history with 18 awards. Her signature song "Respect" (1967) became an anthem for the civil rights and feminist movements. She was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Selma to Montgomery Marches Conclude
On March 25, 1965, approximately 25,000 marchers arrived at the Alabama State Capitol after a five-day, 54-mile march from Selma. The march, led by Martin Luther King Jr. and protected by federal troops, helped build support for the Voting Rights Act signed later that year.
Slave Trade Abolished in British Empire
On March 25, 1807, after decades of campaigning by abolitionists including Olaudah Equiano and William Wilberforce, Parliament banned the slave trade. Enforcement was gradual, and full emancipation did not come until 1833.
Scottsboro Boys Arrested
In March 1931, the Scottsboro Boys were arrested and quickly tried by all-white juries. Their case went to the Supreme Court twice, establishing important precedents for fair trial rights. Most served years in prison before being exonerated.
Virgil Abloh Named Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton
On March 25, 2018, Louis Vuitton announced Virgil Abloh as artistic director of menswear, making him the first African American to lead a major French luxury fashion house. The Off-White founder brought streetwear sensibility to high fashion before his death from cancer in November 2021 at age 41.