Time, Inc. agrees to sell NYT Cable for $420 million, to a group led by J. Bruce Llewellyn, the largest cable TV acquisition by an African American. The transformation of cable media in the late 1980s and early 1990s opened doors for greater Black representation in entertainment, news, and culture. BET’s growth, in particular, played a key role in giving a platform to Black artists, journalists, and communities nationwide.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by three African American students: A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown. The founders envisioned a fraternity that would exemplify the ideals of Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service. Special charter members included William F. Vincent, I.C. Scruggs and Walter F. Tebles. Unlike other fraternities at the time, they emphasized inclusivity and community service, laying the foundation for a lasting legacy in social justice, education, and civic engagement.

After months of resistance, the Georgia House of Representatives, facing mounting legal pressure and national scrutiny, finally voted to seat Julian Bond. Bond, a civil rights leader and outspoken critic of the Vietnam War, had been elected to the House in 1965 but was initially barred from taking his seat due to his anti-war stance. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this denial unconstitutional, affirming Bond’s right to free speech and legislative service. His eventual seating marked a significant victory for civil rights and political freedom.

Renowned poet Countee Cullen, a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance, passed away on this day. Known for works such as Color and Copper Sun, Cullen blended classical poetic forms with themes of racial identity, dignity, and injustice, leaving a lasting legacy in African American literature.

Earl Gilbert Graves Sr. (January 9, 1935 – April 6, 2020) was an influential American entrepreneur, publisher, and advocate for African American businesses. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he graduated from Morgan State University with a degree in economics in 1958. Graves founded Black Enterprise magazine in 1970, aiming to educate and empower African American entrepreneurs and professionals. He also served as CEO of Pepsi-Cola of Washington, D.C., making it the largest minority-controlled Pepsi franchise in the U.S. at the time. Throughout his career, Graves received numerous accolades, including the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal in 1999. He passed away on April 6, 2020, at the age of 85.

Ahmed Sékou Touré, the first President of Guinea, was born on this day. A key figure in the African independence movement, Touré led Guinea to become the first French African colony to gain independence in 1958. He was known for his strong stance against colonialism and served as president until his death in 1984.

Edward Mitchell Bannister, a celebrated African American painter known for his pastoral landscapes and seascapes, died on this day. Bannister was a key figure in the 19th-century American art world and co-founder of the Providence Art Club. Despite facing racial barriers, he became the first African American artist to win a national award when he received first prize at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. His work and legacy helped pave the way for future generations of Black artists.

Fisk University was established in Nashville, Tennessee, becoming one of the first historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. In the same year, Rust College in Mississippi and Lincoln University in Missouri were also founded, marking 1866 as a pivotal year in the advancement of higher education for African Americans during the Reconstruction era.