Dewey “Pigmeat” Markham, born on April 18, 1904, in Durham, North Carolina, was a multifaceted African American entertainer renowned for his work as a comedian, singer, dancer, and actor. His career, which began in 1917, spanned vaudeville, the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” and mainstream television. Markham gained widespread recognition for his “Here Comes the Judge” routine, which became a cultural catchphrase, especially after its feature on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” in the late 1960s. He also released a single titled “Here Comes the Judge” in 1968, which is considered by some as an early influence on hip-hop. Markham passed away on December 13, 1981, in The Bronx, New York, due to a stroke.

The Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) is the nation’s longest-running voluntary school desegregation program. Established in 1966, METCO facilitates the busing of students of color from Boston and Springfield to public schools in surrounding suburban communities, aiming to eliminate racial imbalance and promote diversity in education. ?

Key Points about METCO:

• Inception and Funding: METCO began in 1966, initially funded by grants from the Carnegie Corporation and the U.S. Office of Education. In 1968, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts assumed financial responsibility, providing annual grants to support the program. ?

• Mission: The program’s mission is to expand educational opportunities, increase diversity, and reduce racial isolation by enabling students from Boston and Springfield to attend public schools in participating suburban districts. ?

• Participation: As of recent data, approximately 3,300 students are enrolled in METCO across 33 school districts in the Boston metropolitan area and four districts outside Springfield. ?

• Impact: METCO has provided thousands of students with access to quality education and has fostered multicultural understanding among students from diverse backgrounds. ?

The program stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to achieve educational equity and racial integration in American schools.

On December 13, 1957, Daniel Ahmling Chapman Nyaho presented his credentials as Ghana’s first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States, marking a significant milestone in Ghana’s diplomatic history following its independence earlier that year. ?

Born on July 5, 1909, in Keta, Volta Region, Chapman Nyaho was a distinguished academic and diplomat. He was the first African appointee at the United Nations and served as Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the UN. In 1958, he became the first Ghanaian headmaster of Achimota College. ?

Chapman Nyaho’s tenure as ambassador to the U.S. lasted until 1959, after which he continued to contribute significantly to Ghana’s educational and diplomatic sectors.

On December 26, 1944, Harriet Ida Pickens and Frances Eliza Wills became the first African American women commissioned as officers in the U.S. Navy’s Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). Their enlistment followed the Navy’s decision on October 19, 1944, to integrate the WAVES, a move influenced by civil rights organizations advocating for inclusivity. ?

Pickens, with a background in public health administration, and Wills, a social worker, completed their training at the Naval Reserve Midshipmen’s School at Smith College. Upon commissioning, Lieutenant (junior grade) Pickens and Ensign Wills were assigned to the WAVES training facility at Hunter College in the Bronx, New York City. ?

Their groundbreaking achievements paved the way for future generations of African American women in the U.S. Navy, symbolizing a significant step toward racial and gender integration within the armed forces during World War II.

On this day, Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era, was traded from the Brooklyn Dodgers to the New York Giants. However, Robinson never played for the Giants—he had secretly agreed to retire from baseball to take an executive position with the Chock full o’Nuts coffee company.

Larry Doby, born on this day in Camden, South Carolina, would go on to become a trailblazer in Major League Baseball. On July 5, 1947, he became the first African American player in the American League, breaking the color barrier just weeks after Jackie Robinson did so in the National League.

Doby played for the Cleveland Indians, helping lead the team to a World Series championship in 1948, and was the American League RBI leader in 1954. He later became the second African American manager in MLB history.

Doby’s courage and talent paved the way for future generations of Black athletes in professional baseball.

Menelik II, the visionary emperor who modernized Ethiopia and defended its sovereignty, died on this day in 1913. His reign (1889–1913) was marked by significant modernization, including the introduction of railroads, schools, hospitals, and telecommunication systems.

He is best remembered for his leadership during the Battle of Adwa (1896), where Ethiopian forces decisively defeated the Italian army — a rare victory for an African nation against European colonizers during the Scramble for Africa. This triumph made Ethiopia a symbol of Black independence and pride around the world.

Even after his stroke in 1906, Menelik’s legacy of independence and progress lived on, deeply shaping modern Ethiopia and African resistance movements.

Archibald Lee Wright, later known as Archie Moore, was born in Benoit, Mississippi. A legendary figure in boxing, Moore would go on to win the World Light Heavyweight Championship in 1952 and hold the title for nearly a decade, until 1960—one of the longest reigns in the division’s history.

Known for his powerful punching and defensive skill, Moore also holds the record for most career knockouts in professional boxing, with over 130 KOs. Beyond the ring, he became a mentor to young fighters, including a young Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.

Ella Baker, one of the most influential yet unsung heroes of the American Civil Rights Movement, was born on this day. A tireless organizer and strategist, she began her activism in the 1930s and would go on to lead the New York branch of the NAACP.

In the 1960s, she played a pivotal role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and was instrumental in supporting young activists during the student-led sit-in movement. Her mentorship led to the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960, where her belief in grassroots organizing deeply influenced its structure and philosophy.

Baker’s legacy is defined by her commitment to community empowerment and collective leadership, summed up in her famous quote:

“Strong people don’t need strong leaders.”

Under increasing pressure and facing troop shortages, General George Washington reversed a previous policy and allowed free Black men to enlist in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Although Black men had initially fought in early battles like Lexington and Concord (1775), they were later banned from service. By late 1777, the dire need for soldiers led to this pivotal policy shift.

Approximately 5,000 African American soldiers would go on to serve in various roles—infantrymen, drummers, laborers, and spies—fighting for a freedom that would not yet apply to them.