On January 5, 1943, George Washington Carver Day was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt following Carver’s death. This day honors the life and legacy of George Washington Carver, a renowned African American agricultural scientist, educator, and inventor best known for his work with peanuts and crop rotation techniques that revolutionized agriculture in the American South.

Carver was born into slavery in the early 1860s and overcame immense obstacles to become one of the most respected scientists and educators of his time. His research helped improve the lives of countless farmers, and he advocated for sustainable farming and education as a means to uplift Black communities.

The establishment of George Washington Carver Day made him one of the first African Americans to be honored with a national day of recognition in the United States.

William H. Hastie, the first African American to serve as a civilian aide to the U.S. Secretary of War, resigned his position to protest the ongoing segregation and discrimination against Black servicemen in the U.S. armed forces during World War II. His resignation brought national attention to racial injustice within the military and became a catalyst for later reforms.

Alvin Ailey, born on January 5, 1931, in Rogers, Texas, was a seminal American dancer, choreographer, and activist. His early experiences in the rural South, including working in cotton fields and witnessing church services, deeply influenced his artistic vision.

In 1958, Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, aiming to enrich American modern dance heritage and preserve the African-American cultural experience. His most acclaimed work, “Revelations,” draws upon his “blood memories” of Texas, the blues, spirituals, and gospel, and is recognized as one of the most popular and performed ballets worldwide.

Throughout his career, Ailey choreographed 79 ballets, blending elements of theater, modern dance, ballet, and jazz with Black vernacular. His efforts significantly increased global awareness of Black life in America. In recognition of his contributions, Ailey received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1988.  He passed away on December 1, 1989, in New York City.

Ailey’s legacy endures through his dance company and school, which continue to inspire and train new generations of dancers, upholding his mission of celebrating the African-American cultural experience through dance.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Indiana University by Elder W. Diggs, Bryan K. Armstrong, John M. Lee, Harvey T. Asher, Marcus P. Blakemore, Guy L. Grant, Paul Caine, George Edmonds, Ezra D. Alexander, and Edward G. Irvin. The fraternity was established to provide a support system for African American students and to promote leadership, achievement, and service.

Amidst a wave of violence and political unrest aimed at suppressing Black voters and Republican officials during Reconstruction, President Ulysses S. Grant dispatched federal troops to Vicksburg, Mississippi. This intervention came after white supremacist groups, including the “White League,” effectively overthrew the local government through force and intimidation. The federal action underscored the fragile state of civil rights and democracy for African Americans in the South during Reconstruction.

The Ohio legislature passed the first in a series of “Black Laws” designed to restrict the rights and movement of free Black people in the North. These laws required Black residents to show legal proof of freedom and post bonds for good behavior. Similar laws followed in other Northern states. Constitutions in Illinois, Indiana, and Oregon explicitly barred Black settlers, underscoring the widespread institutional racism outside the South.