The Peabody Fund was established by philanthropist George Peabody to support education in the post-Civil War Southern United States, particularly for newly freed African Americans. The fund provided resources for the construction of schools, teacher training, scholarships, and the development of industrial education. It was one of the first major efforts to promote public education in the South during Reconstruction.

Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of 14-year-old Emmett Till—whose brutal lynching in 1955 became a catalyst for the American civil rights movement—passed away at the age of 81. Her decision to hold an open-casket funeral for her son, allowing the world to witness the violence of racism, marked a pivotal moment in civil rights history. Till-Mobley remained an outspoken advocate for racial justice and education throughout her life.

Legendary jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie passed away at age 75. A key figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz, Gillespie was known for his virtuosic technique, bent trumpet, and trademark puffed cheeks. His innovative fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms helped shape the sound of 20th-century jazz and expanded its global influence.

On January 6, 1971, Cecil A. Partee was elected President Pro Tempore of the Illinois State Senate, becoming the first African American to hold this position. He served as President Pro Tempore from 1971 to 1973, then as Minority Leader from 1973 to 1975, and subsequently as President of the Senate from 1975 to 1977. Partee’s election marked a significant milestone in Illinois politics, reflecting his dedication and leadership within the state’s legislative body.?

John Singleton, acclaimed director and screenwriter, was born in Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his groundbreaking 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director—making him the first African American and the youngest person ever nominated in that category at the time. Singleton’s work spotlighted the lives and struggles of African Americans in urban America.

In Rock Hill, South Carolina, nine African American students from Friendship Junior College were arrested for a sit-in at a segregated lunch counter. Refusing to pay fines, they chose to serve jail time instead, launching the “jail-in” tactic. Their defiance marked a pivotal shift in civil rights strategy—emphasizing nonviolent resistance and the moral power of accepting unjust punishment.

On this day, Congressman Robert Brown Elliott delivered one of the most powerful and eloquent speeches in defense of Senator Charles Sumner’s civil rights bill. Addressing the U.S. House of Representatives, Elliott’s hour-long oration challenged racial injustice and called for equal rights under the law. He began with the poignant words:

“I regret, sir, that the dark hue of my skin may lend color to the imputation that I am controlled by motives personal to myself…”

Elliott’s speech was widely praised, not only for its rhetorical brilliance but also for its firm stance on justice and equality during the Reconstruction era.

The New England Anti-Slavery Society was organized at the African Baptist Church on Boston’s Beacon Hill. Led by William Lloyd Garrison, the society was one of the earliest and most influential abolitionist organizations in the United States. It aimed to promote immediate emancipation and racial equality, and it played a key role in galvanizing anti-slavery sentiment throughout the North.

In Boston, Massachusetts, abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison released the first issue of The Liberator, an anti-slavery newspaper that would become one of the most influential publications advocating for the immediate emancipation of all enslaved people in the United States. Garrison’s bold stance and unwavering commitment to abolition played a key role in shaping the discourse on slavery and racial justice.

The first organized emigration to Africa begins as 86 free African Americans depart New York Harbor aboard the Mayflower of Liberia. Their destination is the British colony of Sierra Leone, known for offering refuge to free African Americans and fugitive slaves. This event marks an early chapter in the movement that would eventually lead to the founding of Liberia.

On this day, a group of enslaved Black men in Massachusetts submitted a petition to the colonial legislature, seeking their freedom. Citing natural rights and the ideals of liberty fueling the American Revolution, they argued that they too were entitled to freedom. This was one of at least eight freedom petitions submitted by enslaved people in Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War period, showcasing early Black resistance and advocacy for human rights in America.