Lisa Bonet, an American actress, was born on November 16, 1967, in San Francisco, California, to a Jewish mother and a Black father. She rose to fame for her role as Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show and its spin-off A Different World, becoming a cultural icon of the 1980s. Bonet also pursued a brief film career, appearing in movies such as Angel Heart (1987). She was married to musician Lenny Kravitz, and together they have a daughter, Zoë Kravitz, who is also an acclaimed actress and singer.

On this day, Agbani Darego of Nigeria was crowned Miss World 2001 in Sun City, South Africa. She made history as the first Black African woman to win the Miss World title. Her victory was a monumental moment for representation in global beauty pageants and inspired a new generation of African women in fashion and public life.

Darego went on to model internationally and became a symbol of pride across the African continent.

On November 16, 1972, a tragic incident unfolded at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Student protests concerning the university’s governance led to the occupation of the administration building. In response, law enforcement deployed tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. During the ensuing confrontation, two students were fatally shot. ?

This event underscores the intense struggles faced by African American students during the civil rights era as they advocated for institutional reforms and equitable treatment.

On this day, Dwight Gooden, one of baseball’s most electrifying pitchers, was born in Tampa, Florida. Known as “Doc” or “Dr. K,” Gooden made history in 1984 when he became the youngest player ever to be named National League Rookie of the Year at just 19 years old. He was also the youngest pitcher selected for an All-Star Game and, in 1985, became the youngest winner of the Cy Young Award, dominating the league with a 1.53 ERA and 268 strikeouts.

Gooden’s early career helped define the success of the New York Mets in the 1980s and inspired a generation of young Black athletes in America’s pastime.

Zina Garrison was born in Houston, Texas, on this day. She would go on to become one of the most accomplished African American tennis players in history. Garrison won 37 professional tennis titles, including both singles and doubles competitions.

• In 1988, she earned Olympic gold in doubles and a bronze medal in singles at the Seoul Games.

• In 1990, she made history as the Wimbledon women’s singles runner-up, becoming the first African American woman since Althea Gibson to reach a Grand Slam singles final.

Garrison’s career helped pave the way for future stars like Venus and Serena Williams.

William Christopher Handy, known as the Father of the Blues, was born on this day in Florence, Alabama. A classically trained musician and composer, Handy was instrumental in popularizing the blues genre by transcribing and publishing blues music, bringing African American folk traditions to broader audiences. His most famous compositions include “St. Louis Blues”, “Memphis Blues”, and “Beale Street Blues”.

Handy’s work laid the foundation for modern American music, influencing jazz, rock, and R&B.

Richard T. Greener, the first African American graduate of Harvard University (Class of 1870), was appointed professor of metaphysics and logic at the University of South Carolina on this day. He also served as the university’s librarian. His appointment marked a significant milestone during Reconstruction, as the university was briefly integrated and employed several Black faculty members.

Greener was a trailblazing scholar, lawyer, and diplomat who broke barriers in education and civil service.

In the 1873 Mississippi state election, African Americans achieved unprecedented political success during the Reconstruction era. Alexander K. Davis was elected Lieutenant Governor, James Hill became Secretary of State, and T.W. Cardozo was elected Superintendent of Education.

Additionally, Black legislators won 55 of 115 seats in the Mississippi House of Representatives and 9 of 37 seats in the State Senate — making up 42% of the state legislature. These victories marked one of the highest levels of Black political representation in the South during Reconstruction and were a testament to the political mobilization of formerly enslaved people in the post-Civil War era.

On this day, Paul Cuffe, a wealthy African American and Wampanoag businessman, along with other free Black men in Massachusetts, petitioned the state legislature. They argued against taxation without representation, demanding the right to vote, as they were being taxed despite being denied full citizenship and political participation.

This act of protest came just after the ratification of the Massachusetts state constitution and was one of the earliest documented civil rights petitions by African Americans in U.S. history. Paul Cuffe’s leadership foreshadowed the continuing struggle for Black suffrage and civil rights.