On this date in 1925, Medgar Evers was born, in Decatur, Mississippi. He was a civil rights activist and World War II veteran who played a crucial role in the fight against segregation and racial injustice in the United States. As the first field secretary for the NAACP in Mississippi, he worked tirelessly to end voter suppression, desegregate public facilities, and seek justice for African Americans who were victims of racial violence.

Evers was assassinated on June 12, 1963, outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi, by a white supremacist. His death became a turning point in the civil rights movement, further galvanizing the fight for equality. His legacy lives on through continued efforts for civil rights and social justice.

On this date, Thurgood Marshall was born, in Baltimore, Maryland. He made history as the first African American Supreme Court Justice, serving from 1967 to 1991.

Before joining the Supreme Court, Marshall was a pioneering civil rights lawyer and the lead attorney in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the landmark case that led to the desegregation of public schools. He also served as the NAACP’s chief counsel and later as a U.S. Court of Appeals judge before being appointed to the Supreme Court by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Marshall’s legacy remains profound in shaping civil rights, justice, and equality in the U.S. ????

On this date, Elijah McCoy was granted a patent for the steam engine lubricator (U.S. Patent No. 129,843). This device automatically lubricated steam engines, allowing them to run more efficiently without the need for frequent stops for manual lubrication.

McCoy’s invention was so effective that engineers and railroad companies specifically sought out the “real McCoy” to ensure they were getting the highest-quality lubrication device. His work revolutionized industrial machinery and transportation, making him one of the most influential Black inventors in history. ??  

On this date in 2001, Robert Tools became the first person to receive the AbioCor, a self-contained artificial heart, at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. The AbioCor was a groundbreaking medical device developed by Abiomed, designed to completely replace the human heart without external wires or tubes.

Tools, a former telephone company employee, suffered from severe heart failure and was not eligible for a heart transplant. The AbioCor device allowed him to live for 151 days post-surgery before passing away in November 2001 due to complications.

This marked a major milestone in the development of artificial organs and paved the way for future innovations in mechanical heart technology.

On this date in 1961, Bishop Robert Clarence Lawson passed away. He was the founder of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith (COOLJC), a major Pentecostal denomination. Lawson was a prominent leader in the Oneness Pentecostal movement, known for his dynamic preaching, evangelism, and church planting. Under his leadership, the church expanded significantly, establishing congregations nationwide. Refuge Temple in New York City (now known as Greater Refuge Temple) became the organization’s headquarters and a major center for Apostolic worship and teaching.

Bishop Lawson also founded the W. L. Bonner College (formerly known as the School of the Prophets) and authored numerous theological writings, helping to shape the doctrine and practices of the Apostolic Pentecostal movement. His legacy continues to impact COOLJC and the broader Pentecostal community today.

On this date in 1946, Anthony Overton, an influential African American entrepreneur, banker, and publisher, passed away. Overton was best known for founding The Overton Hygienic Manufacturing Company, one of the first major Black-owned cosmetic companies in the United States. He also established The Chicago Bee, a newspaper that supported African American businesses and civil rights. Additionally, he founded the Victory Life Insurance Company and the Douglass National Bank, making him one of the first African Americans to own a national bank. His contributions played a crucial role in fostering Black economic empowerment in the early 20th century.

On this date in 1943, Lt. Charles B. Hall, a member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, became the first Black pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft during World War II.

Hall, from Brazil, Indiana, was flying a P-40 Warhawk fighter plane during a mission over Sicily when he downed a German Focke-Wulf Fw 190. His achievement was a major milestone, demonstrating the skill and bravery of the all-Black 99th Fighter Squadron, which had faced skepticism about their effectiveness in combat.

For his actions, Hall was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, making history not only as a fighter pilot but also as a trailblazer for African Americans in the U.S. military.

His success and that of the Tuskegee Airmen helped pave the way for the eventual desegregation of the U.S. armed forces in 1948.

On this date in 1937, Walter F. White was honored by the NAACP in New York City for his significant contributions to civil rights. As the Executive Secretary of the NAACP, White was a key figure in investigating racial violence, particularly lynchings, and advocating for a federal anti-lynching law.

White, who was born in Atlanta, Georgia, used his unique background—he was of mixed race with a fair complexion—to pass as white and conduct undercover investigations of racial violence in the South. His efforts helped expose the horrors of lynching to the national public and push for legislative change, though a federal anti-lynching law was never passed during his lifetime.

His leadership at the NAACP also contributed to key civil rights victories, including desegregation efforts and legal battles against racial discrimination.

On this date in 1935, Ed Bullins was born. He was a groundbreaking playwright and a major figure in the Black Arts Movement, known for his works that explored Black life and culture in America. His plays, such as The Taking of Miss Janie and In the Wine Time, addressed themes of racial identity, social struggles, and Black empowerment.

Bullins was deeply involved with the Black Panther Party and worked alongside figures like Amiri Baraka to push forward a revolutionary Black theater. His influence on African American drama and theater remains significant today.

On this date, President James A. Garfield was shot at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker.

Garfield was struck twice, once in the arm and once in the back. Despite efforts to treat him, medical practices at the time were inadequate, and he suffered for 79 days before succumbing to infections and complications on September 19, 1881.

His assassination led to major reforms in the U.S. civil service system, including the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883, which aimed to curb political patronage in government hiring.

On this date in 1822, Denmark Vesey, a formerly enslaved man and skilled carpenter, was hanged in Charleston, South Carolina, after being accused of organizing a large-scale slave rebellion.

Vesey, who had purchased his freedom in 1799, was an influential leader within Charleston’s free Black community. He was alleged to have planned an uprising to free enslaved people and lead them to Haiti, where slavery had been abolished. However, the plot was discovered before it could be executed, leading to his arrest along with over 130 others.

Following a secret trial, Vesey and 35 co-conspirators were sentenced to death. His execution became a symbol of resistance against oppression, inspiring future abolitionist movements.

On this date, Vermont made history on July 2, 1777, by becoming the first American colony to abolish slavery in its state constitution. This was a groundbreaking move, setting a precedent for abolition in the northern states.

Following Vermont’s lead, other states took steps to end slavery:

1780 – Pennsylvania passed a gradual emancipation law, ensuring that children born to enslaved mothers would eventually be free.

1783 – Massachusetts and New Hampshire fully prohibited slavery. In Massachusetts, court rulings effectively ended the practice after the state’s constitution declared all men “born free and equal.”

1784 – Connecticut and Rhode Island also enacted gradual emancipation laws, phasing out slavery over time.

1799 & 1804 – New York and New Jersey followed with their own gradual emancipation laws.

These early efforts laid the foundation for the broader abolition movement, which would eventually lead to the nationwide end of slavery with the 13th Amendment in 1865.

On this date, a Black enslaved woman was acquitted of sorcery during the infamous Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts. While many were accused and convicted of witchcraft during this period, her acquittal was notable, as the trials disproportionately targeted marginalized groups, including enslaved people and women.

This event stands in contrast to the fate of Tituba, another enslaved woman of African or Indigenous descent, who was one of the first accused in Salem. Tituba was imprisoned but survived, while many others were executed.

The Salem Witch Trials remain a dark chapter in American history, reflecting mass hysteria, racial and social prejudices, and the dangers of unfounded accusations.