Respecting Negro demand, the New York Times announces that the “N” in the word “Negro” and “Negress” would be capitalized in its pages. The New York Time became the first major newspaper to recognize the spelling.

On this day in 1987, Lloyd Richards wins a Tony as best director for the August Wilson play Fences. The play also wins Tony’s for best play, best performance by an actor, and best performance by a featured actress.

On this date in 1958, Composer, musician and singer Prince Rogers Nelson born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

On this day in 1943, Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni, Jr. on June 7, 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Nikki Giovanni became a leading poet of the Black Arts Movement, Giovanni graduated from Fisk University and published her first poetry collection, Black Feeling.

On this date in 1917, Pulitzer Prize winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas.

On this day in 1868, Marie Laveau, the “Queen of the Voodoo,” was dethroned because of old age. Believed to be born in New Orleans in 1794 and died in New Orleans on June 15th, 1881. A free woman of color as well as a Quadroon (African, Indian, French and Spanish), she became the most famous and powerful Voodoo Queen in the world.

On this day in 1863, Three regiments and small detachment of white troops repulsed division of Texans in hand-to-hand battle at Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana.