Congressman William H. Gray is elected chairman of the House Budget Committee, the highest congressional post held by an African American.

Prince Hall, founder of the first African American Masonic lodge petitioned the Massachusetts legislature for fund to return to Africa. The plan is the first recorded effort by African Americans to return to their homeland.

Nearly 1,500 African American students in Selma, Alabama, boycotted classes to protest the dismissal of Norward Rousell, the city’s first Black school superintendent. The protest came just two months before the 25th anniversary of the historic Selma civil rights march.

Patrick Kelly, an acclaimed fashion designer and a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, passed away in Paris at the age of 35. Known for his bold, playful designs and groundbreaking success in the fashion industry, Kelly was the first American and the first Black designer inducted into the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode in France. His work was worn by high-profile figures including Princess Diana, Jane Seymour, Bette Davis, Grace Jones, and Madonna.

Renowned African American soprano Leontyne Price gave her final performance at the Metropolitan Opera, singing the title role in Aida. Her farewell marked the end of a legendary operatic career that broke racial barriers and inspired generations of Black classical musicians.

Dr. Melvin H. Evans was inaugurated as the first elected governor of the United States Virgin Islands on January 4, 1971. Prior to his election, governors were appointed by the U.S. President. Evans, a Republican, had been serving as the appointed governor since July 1969. Following the passage of the Elective Governor Acts of 1968, which allowed for the election of governors by the territory’s residents, Evans won the 1970 gubernatorial election, making history as both the first elected governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the first Black person elected governor in the United States.

During his tenure, Evans focused on infrastructure development, notably overseeing the construction of 25.3 miles of roads in his first year—surpassing the total built in the previous decade. He also established the Consumer Protection Council and significantly increased the size of the Virgin Islands Police Department from 105 to 445 officers between 1969 and 1974.

After serving as governor until 1975, Evans continued his public service by being elected as the Virgin Islands’ delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978. He later served as the U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago from 1981 until his passing in 1984.

On this date, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) was officially organized by 13 African American members of the United States House of Representatives. The caucus was established to address legislative concerns of Black Americans and to ensure that African Americans had a collective voice in Congress. The CBC has since played a pivotal role in advocating for civil rights, economic justice, and equality across the United States.

Archie A. Alexander, architectural engineer and former governor of the Virgin Islands, died on this day in 1958 at the age of 69. He had been appointed governor of the Virgin Islands by President Eisenhower in 1954. This coachman’s son earned an engineering degree from the State University of Iowa, where he became the first African American to graduate from its College of Engineering in 1912. Archie A. Alexander went on to establish a successful engineering firm, Alexander & Repass, which played a significant role in major infrastructure projects across the U.S., including roads, bridges, and airfields. His career combined technical excellence with a commitment to public service, culminating in his appointment as governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he worked to improve the territory’s infrastructure and administration.

William Levi Dawson was elected as a United States Representative from Illinois on November 3, 1942, and began his congressional service on January 3, 1943. He represented Illinois’s 1st District for over 27 years, from 1943 until his death in 1970. Notably, Dawson was the third African American elected to Congress in the 20th century and the first Black member to chair a standing congressional committee. His election marked a significant moment in the history of African American political representation in the United States.?

Grace Bumbry, born on January 4, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, was a pioneering American opera singer renowned for her rich mezzo-soprano voice and dynamic stage presence. She was a trailblazer among African-American classical singers, following in the footsteps of Marian Anderson. Bumbry gained international recognition in 1961 when director Wieland Wagner cast her as Venus in Richard Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” at the Bayreuth Festival, making her the first Black singer to perform there. ?Wikipedia

Throughout her illustrious career, Bumbry performed at major opera houses worldwide, including the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Her repertoire encompassed both mezzo-soprano and soprano roles, showcasing her vocal versatility. Notable performances include Amneris in Verdi’s “Aida,” Carmen in Bizet’s “Carmen,” and the title role in Puccini’s “Tosca.” ?Wikipedia

Bumbry’s contributions to the arts were recognized with numerous accolades. In 1972, she received a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording. She was also named Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres by the French government and was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009 for her influence on American culture through the performing arts. ?Wikipedia

Grace Bumbry passed away on May 7, 2023, in Vienna, Austria, at the age of 86. Her legacy endures as a groundbreaking artist who not only captivated audiences with her performances but also paved the way for future generations of African-American opera singers.

Floyd Patterson, the first Olympic gold medalist to become a world heavyweight boxing champion, was born in Waco, North Carolina. Known for his speed and elusive style, Patterson became the youngest world heavyweight champion in 1956 at age 21 and later made history as the first man to regain the heavyweight title after losing it. His achievements broke racial barriers in professional sports and inspired a generation of Black athletes.

On this day, Andrew “Rube” Foster, a former player, manager, and executive, established the Negro National League (NNL), the first successful, organized Black baseball league in the United States. The NNL provided a platform for African American and Afro-Latino players who were excluded from Major League Baseball due to racial segregation. Foster’s vision and leadership helped lay the foundation for a thriving era of Black baseball and contributed significantly to the eventual integration of the sport.

C.L.R. James, a Trinidadian historian, journalist, and socialist, was born on this day. He is best known for his influential work The Black Jacobins (1938), a groundbreaking history of the Haitian Revolution. James was a key intellectual figure in Pan-Africanism and Marxist thought, and his writings have had a lasting impact on postcolonial studies and Black liberation movements worldwide.