September 15
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
On September 15, 1963, members of the Ku Klux Klan bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, and Carole Robertson, and 11-year-old Carol Denise McNair. The church had been a meeting point for civil rights leaders. The bombing galvanized national support for civil rights legislation.
Claude McKay Born
Born September 15, 1889, Claude McKay's poetry and novels explored racial consciousness and Black identity. His poem "If We Must Die" (1919) became an anthem of resistance against racial violence and oppression.
African American History Museum Passes 10 Million Visitors
By 2024, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture had welcomed over 10 million visitors since opening in September 2016, making it one of the most visited Smithsonian museums. The museum holds over 40,000 artifacts and serves as a space for national dialogue on race and identity.
Publication of 'Race After Technology'
Ruha Benjamin's book 'Race After Technology' was published, exploring the intersection of race and technology.