Michael Jordan announces his second retirement from the NBA, stepping away from what was widely regarded as the most illustrious career in professional sports history. At the time, Jordan had led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and earned five MVP awards, becoming a global icon both on and off the court.

Charity Adams Earley, the first Black woman commissioned as an officer in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and commander of the only battalion of Black women to serve overseas during World War II, passed away on this day. She led the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, which played a crucial role in clearing a massive backlog of mail for U.S. troops in Europe.

On this day, Vernon Baker, a U.S. Army lieutenant and World War II veteran, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton. Baker was one of seven African American soldiers recognized with the nation’s highest military honor for their valor during WWII, more than 50 years after their service. He was the only one of the seven still alive at the time. His heroic actions during a 1945 assault on a German stronghold in Italy went unrecognized due to systemic racial discrimination within the military.

Wilder, a Democrat and former lieutenant governor, won the Virginia gubernatorial race by just 7,000 votes. His election was especially significant given Virginia’s historical role as a central state in the Confederacy during the Civil War. His victory marked a major milestone in U.S. political history and African American representation in government.

Sterling Allen Brown, a renowned poet, folklorist, and literary critic, passed away on this day. Born in 1901, Brown was a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance and dedicated his life to capturing the richness of African American culture through vernacular speech and folklore. His influential poetry, such as in his collection Southern Road (1932), highlighted the struggles and resilience of Black life in the rural South. Brown was also a beloved professor at Howard University for over four decades and the first Poet Laureate of Washington, D.C.

Arizona Governor Evan Mecham rescinded a gubernatorial decree by former Governor Bruce Babbitt that had established Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a state holiday.

Significance: This controversial decision led to national outrage, protests, and boycotts of Arizona, highlighting ongoing resistance to honoring Dr. King’s legacy. Arizona later reinstated the holiday after a statewide vote in 1992.

A commemorative stamp honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is issued by the U.S. Postal Service as part of the Black Heritage USA series.

Description: The stamp, featuring the iconic civil rights leader, was the second release in the Black Heritage series, which celebrates the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history and culture. This issue marked a significant recognition of Dr. King’s legacy just over a decade after his assassination.

Robert C. Weaver made history as the first Black person appointed to a United States presidential cabinet when President Lyndon B. Johnson named him Secretary of the newly established Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Weaver, a respected economist and administrator, helped shape urban policy and promote fair housing during a critical time in the civil rights era.

On January 13, 1953, Don Barksdale made history as the first Black player to participate in an NBA All-Star Game. A trailblazing athlete and former Olympic gold medalist, Barksdale helped break racial barriers in professional basketball and paved the way for future generations of Black athletes.

On this day, Benjamin Lawson Hooks was born in Memphis, Tennessee. A tireless advocate for civil rights, Hooks became one of the most influential leaders in the movement for racial equality in the United States. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II—where he faced segregation and discrimination—Hooks earned a law degree and began a legal career focused on justice and civil rights.

In 1972, he became the first African American appointed to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where he pushed for minority ownership in media. In 1977, Hooks took the helm of the NAACP as its executive director, leading the organization through critical years of activism and growth. Under his leadership, the NAACP expanded voter registration efforts, challenged economic inequality, and promoted educational access.

Hooks also served as a Baptist minister and often spoke about the moral imperative of justice and equality. His life’s work left a lasting legacy on both the legal and civil rights landscapes in America. He passed away in 2010, but his contributions continue to inspire future generations.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Howard University by 22 collegiate women committed to public service, with a primary focus on the Black community. The sorority would go on to become one of the largest and most influential African American sororities, playing a key role in education, advocacy, and civil rights initiatives worldwide.

On this day, P.B.S. Pinchback, the first African American to serve as governor of a U.S. state, formally stepped down from his role as governor of Louisiana. During the inauguration of his successor, he stated: “I now have the honor to formally surrender the office of governor, with the hope that you will administer the government in the interests of all the people [and that] your administration will be as fair toward the humblest as to the proudest citizen.” Pinchback’s brief tenure (Dec 9, 1872 – Jan 13, 1873) marked a historic milestone during the Reconstruction era.

The Colored National Labor Union (CNLU) convened its first national meeting in Washington, D.C. Founded by Isaac Myers, the CNLU became the first national labor organization led by African Americans. It advocated for the rights of Black workers, promoted education, and pushed for labor reforms at a time when many mainstream unions excluded Black members.