Birth of John H. Johnson
Businessman and publisher John Harold Johnson was born on January 19, 1918 in Arkansas City, Arkansas.
Civil Rights
Civil Rights Act of 1964
On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law, fulfilling a goal set by his predecessor, John F. Kennedy.
Death of Sojourner Truth
Abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth died on November 26, 1883, in Battle Creek, Michigan.
North Carolina Enters the Union
On November 21, 1789, North Carolina was admitted as the 12th state of the union.
Birth of Mary Church Terrell
Mary Church Terrell was born on September 23, 1863, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Happy Birthday, Nelson Mandela!
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in Mvezo, Cape Province, South Africa. The son of a local chief, Mandela spent much of his childhood herding cattle and was enrolled in a local Methodist school at the age of seven. He went on to attend a Methodist high school and college, where he enjoyed playing sports, particularly long-distance running and boxing.
Death of Medgar Evers
On June 12, 1963, civil rights activist Medgar Evers was killed by a white supremacist while standing in his own driveway.
Brown vs. Board of Education
On May 17, 1954, the US Supreme Court ordered the desegregation of schools as a result of the case of Brown vs. Board of Education.
Birth of Marian Anderson
Singer Marian Anderson was born on February 27, 1897, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.