Bryant Gumble resigns after 15 years as host of NBC’s Today Show

On this date in 1989, The Arsenio Hall Show premiered, making history as the first regularly scheduled nightly talk show to be hosted by an African American, Arsenio Hall.

The show quickly became a cultural phenomenon, attracting a younger, more diverse audience than traditional late-night programs. Hall’s energetic hosting style, iconic “Woof! Woof! Woof!” audience chant, and willingness to feature hip-hop artists, comedians, and politicians (including then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton playing the saxophone) set his show apart from others.

It ran successfully until 1994, briefly returned in 2013, and remains a landmark in television history for breaking racial barriers in late-night TV.

On this date in 1984, Rev. Jesse Jackson successfully negotiated the release of U.S. Navy Lt. Robert Goodman, a pilot who had been shot down over Syria while on a mission over Lebanon in December 1983. Lt. Goodman was captured by Syrian forces after his A-6 Intruder aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. His bombardier, Lt. Mark Lange, was killed in the crash.

Rev. Jackson, known for his diplomatic efforts and civil rights activism, traveled to Damascus, Syria, and personally met with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to secure Goodman’s release. His mission was conducted independently of the U.S. government, though it was later praised by President Ronald Reagan, who met with Jackson and Goodman at the White House upon their return.

This diplomatic success showcased Jackson’s ability to negotiate humanitarian releases and was a significant moment in U.S.-Syria relations during a tense period in the Middle East.

On this date in 1969, Louis Stokes made history when he was sworn in as the first African American congressman from Ohio. He represented Ohio’s 21st and later 11th Congressional Districts for over 30 years (1969–1999).

Throughout his career, Stokes was a champion for civil rights, healthcare, and education. He played a key role in congressional investigations on issues like the assassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr. and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. His legacy continues to inspire leaders in politics and public service.

A true pioneer in American history! ?

On this date in 1969, Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was seated by Congress after a long political battle.

Powell, a Democratic congressman from Harlem, New York, was first elected in 1944 and became a powerful advocate for civil rights and social justice. However, in 1967, the House of Representatives voted to exclude him over allegations of misconduct, including misuse of funds. Powell challenged this decision, and in 1969, after winning re-election, he was finally allowed to reclaim his seat in Congress.

His legal battle also led to a landmark Supreme Court case, Powell v. McCormack (1969), which ruled that Congress could not exclude a duly elected member if they met constitutional requirements.

On this date in 1966, Floyd B. McKissick, a civil rights attorney from North Carolina, was named the national director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). He succeeded James Farmer and played a crucial role in shifting CORE’s philosophy towards a more militant stance on Black self-determination and economic empowerment. Under his leadership, CORE moved away from its earlier integrationist approach and embraced Black Power, aligning with the broader movement advocating for racial justice and self-sufficiency.

McKissick later founded Soul City, a planned community in North Carolina aimed at providing economic opportunities for African Americans. His leadership in the civil rights movement left a lasting impact on the struggle for racial equality in the U.S.

On this date in 1966, Sammy Younge Jr. was a 21-year-old civil rights activist and a student at Tuskegee Institute who was tragically shot and killed on January 3, 1966, in Macon County, Alabama.

Younge, a Navy veteran, was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement, working with the **Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)** to fight for voting rights and racial justice. On the day of his murder, he stopped at a gas station and attempted to use the “Whites-only” restroom. The white attendant, Marvin Segrest, confronted him and later shot him in the back of the head.

Younge’s death sparked outrage and became a rallying point for civil rights activists. SNCC issued its first public statement opposing the Vietnam War in response to his killing, drawing a connection between racial injustice at home and abroad. However, despite the activism surrounding his case, Segrest was acquitted by an all-white jury in 1967.

His murder remains a significant moment in the fight for racial equality in America.

On this date in 1961, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was elected Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, making him one of the most powerful African American politicians of his time. As chairman, he played a key role in advancing major social and civil rights legislation, including education funding, minimum wage increases, and anti-discrimination policies. His leadership helped shape many of the Great Society programs under President Lyndon B. Johnson.

On this date in 1947, the **NAACP’s 1947 report** highlighted the extreme racial violence that African Americans, particularly returning Black veterans, faced in **1946**. The organization called it “one of the grimmest years” in its history due to the surge in racist attacks, lynchings, and violent acts committed against Black individuals.

The report specifically **condemned brutal acts** such as:
– The **blowtorch killings** and **eye-gouging** of Black veterans who had just fought in **World War II** for democracy and freedom abroad but returned to face terror and racism at home.
– **Lynchings and racial murders**, particularly in the South, where white mobs targeted Black citizens with impunity.
– Widespread **discrimination and segregation**, despite Black soldiers having served honorably in the war.

One particularly infamous case was the **killing of Isaac Woodard**, a Black WWII veteran who was **blinded by a white police officer in 1946** after he was beaten and his eyes gouged with a billy club. This incident and others like it helped galvanize civil rights activism and put pressure on President **Harry Truman** to take action, eventually leading to the desegregation of the U.S. military in 1948.

The **NAACP’s report** was a **wake-up call** about the deep racial injustices that persisted in America, despite the country’s outward commitment to freedom and democracy during World War II.

On this date in 1947, Congressman William L. Dawson of Illinois made history as the first African American to chair a standing committee of the U.S. Congress when he was elected chairman of the House Expenditures Committee (later known as the Committee on Government Operations).

Dawson, a Democrat from Chicago, was a key figure in African American political leadership during the mid-20th century. He was a strong advocate for civil rights and played a crucial role in mobilizing Black voters within the Democratic Party. His leadership in Congress helped pave the way for greater representation of African Americans in U.S. politics.

On this date in 1947, the total population of the United States was approximately 150,697,361. The Black population was about 15,042,286, making up 10% of the total U.S. population.

This period was just after World War II, during the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement, and before significant demographic shifts caused by migration and social changes in the mid-to-late 20th century.

On this date in 1621, First African American, William Tucker, born. William Tucker is recognized as the first recorded African American born in the American colonies in 1621. He was born in Virginia to enslaved African parents, Anthony and Isabella, who were among the first Africans brought to English North America in 1619. However, unlike many who followed, William Tucker was reportedly a free person. His name was given by Captain William Tucker, an Englishman who played a role in the early colony. His birth marks an important moment in African American history, as it represents the beginning of generations of African-descended people born in what would become the United States.