On July 19, 1941, the first U.S. Army flying school for Black cadets was dedicated at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama. This was a significant moment in history, as it marked the beginning of the Tuskegee Airmen program, a pioneering group of African American pilots who would go on to serve with distinction during World War II.

The establishment of the flying school was a response to pressure from civil rights groups and African American leaders who sought to break racial barriers in the military. The Tuskegee Airmen overcame immense challenges and discrimination, earning a legacy of bravery and excellence in combat. Their success played a key role in reshaping U.S. military policies on race and served as a catalyst for the eventual integration of the armed forces.

On July 19, 1967, more than 1,000 people gathered in Newark, New Jersey, for the first Black Power Conference. This event was a pivotal moment in the Black Power movement, bringing together activists, leaders, and community organizers to discuss strategies for Black empowerment, self-determination, and political influence.

The conference addressed key issues such as economic independence, education, housing, and political representation. It also reinforced the importance of Black unity and self-reliance in the struggle for civil rights and social justice.

This took place during a period of significant racial tensions in the U.S., including the Newark Rebellion, which occurred just days before the conference. The event was a landmark in the movement, influencing later Black political and social activism.

On July 19, 1979, President Jimmy Carter announced the resignation of Joseph A. Califano Jr. as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) and nominated Patricia Roberts Harris to succeed him in that role.

Harris had been serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) since January 1977.

Her appointment to HEW marked a significant milestone, as she became the first African American woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet.

She continued in this capacity until 1980, when the department was reorganized into the Department of Health and Human Services, with Harris remaining as its first Secretary.

The Durham Riot of 1967 occurred in Durham, North Carolina, and was part of a larger wave of civil unrest that took place in U.S. cities during the 1960s. The riot was sparked by tensions related to racial inequality, police brutality, and the social conditions in the African American community.

On July 19, 1967, a protest turned violent, and the National Guard was called in to restore order. The unrest followed a series of similar riots across the country, particularly in urban areas, and was influenced by the broader Civil Rights Movement as well as the frustration and anger that many Black Americans felt due to ongoing discrimination.

This particular riot did not receive as much national attention as some of the more prominent incidents of the time, like the Detroit or Newark riots, but it was still a significant moment in Durham’s history, highlighting the racial tensions of the era and the social challenges facing African Americans in the post-civil rights era. The deployment of the National Guard was a response to the violence, which included looting, destruction, and clashes with law enforcement.

On July 19, 1966, Governor James A. Rhodes of Ohio declared a State of Emergency due to severe civil unrest in the city of Cleveland. This declaration came in the wake of violent racial riots that had broken out in the Hough neighborhood of Cleveland, which was primarily African American. The disturbances, driven by frustration over racial inequalities, poverty, and police brutality, resulted in significant property damage and confrontations with law enforcement.

Governor Rhodes’ response included calling in the Ohio National Guard to restore order. The Cleveland riots were part of a larger pattern of racial unrest in American cities during the 1960s, a period marked by widespread protests and tensions over civil rights issues.

On July 19, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order that led to the establishment of the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC). This was part of an effort to address discrimination in the workplace, particularly in the defense industry, during World War II. The order aimed to ensure that African Americans and other minority groups had access to employment opportunities, especially in government contracts and defense-related industries, which were vital to the war effort.

The creation of the FEPC was a response to mounting pressure from civil rights groups, most notably the March on Washington Movement led by A. Philip Randolph, who threatened a large-scale march to demand equal employment opportunities. Although the FEPC had limited power and resources, it marked a significant step toward combating racial discrimination in employment and laid the foundation for future civil rights advancements.

On July 19, 1925, the legendary entertainer Josephine Baker made her Paris debut at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in the revue La Revue Nègre. This performance marked the beginning of her rise to international fame.

Baker captivated audiences with her charismatic stage presence, daring dance moves, and signature banana skirt in her famous “Danse Sauvage.” She quickly became a symbol of the Jazz Age in France, gaining immense popularity and later becoming a French citizen.

Beyond entertainment, Baker was also a civil rights activist, a member of the French Resistance during World War II, and a humanitarian. She was the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture (Siren of the Tropics, 1927) and later became a vocal advocate for racial equality.

Her influence was so profound that in 2021, she became the first Black woman inducted into the Panthéon in Paris, France’s highest honor for national figures.

On July 19, 1913, the Tri-State Dental Association was formed as a professional organization for African American dentists in the U.S. It served as the forerunner of the National Dental Association (NDA), which was officially established in 1932.

At the time, Black dentists faced exclusion from the American Dental Association (ADA) and other mainstream professional groups, so they created their own networks to support education, advocacy, and professional development. The NDA remains a major organization dedicated to promoting oral health equity and supporting Black dental professionals.

On July 19-20, 1848, Frederick Douglass attended the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women’s rights convention in the United States. He was a strong supporter of women’s rights and played a key role in advocating for the passage of the Declaration of Sentiments, a document drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton that called for gender equality, including women’s suffrage.

During the convention, Douglass passionately spoke in favor of women’s right to vote, arguing that without the ballot, women could never achieve true equality. He defended Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who faced criticism for including women’s suffrage in the declaration, and used his platform as an influential abolitionist and newspaper editor to promote the cause.

His newspaper, The North Star, later published an editorial stating:

“In respect to political rights, we hold woman to be justly entitled to all we claim for man.”

Douglass’s presence at Seneca Falls showed the intersection of abolitionism and women’s rights, highlighting his belief in universal equality.

On July 19, 1967, a riot broke out in Memphis, Tennessee, as part of the broader civil unrest occurring across the United States during the late 1960s. The disturbance was sparked by racial tensions and economic frustrations within the Black community, similar to uprisings in other cities that year.

Key Events:

The Memphis riot foreshadowed further tensions in the city, including the sanitation workers’ strike of 1968, which was a major event leading to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in April 1968.