Coleman A. Young, the first African American mayor of Detroit, passed away on this day at age 79 due to respiratory failure caused by advanced emphysema. Elected in 1973, Young served five consecutive terms (1974–1994), becoming a defining political figure in the city’s modern history.

During his tenure, he worked to integrate city departments, improve labor relations, and invest in urban infrastructure amid significant racial and economic challenges. Young was known for his outspokenness, political savvy, and unwavering advocacy for Detroit’s Black community.

His legacy remains deeply intertwined with the story of Detroit’s transformation in the late 20th century.

Ernie Davis, a standout running back from Syracuse University, made history by becoming the first African American to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Nicknamed “The Elmira Express,” Davis broke racial barriers in sports and inspired a generation of Black athletes.

Although he was later drafted by the NFL, Davis tragically passed away from leukemia in 1963 at the age of 23, before playing a professional game. His legacy lives on as a symbol of excellence, dignity, and perseverance.

Richard Nathaniel Wright, acclaimed American author of Native Son and Black Boy, died in Paris, France, at the age of 52. Wright was a trailblazing literary figure whose powerful and sometimes controversial works exposed the harsh realities of racism, poverty, and identity in 20th-century America.

He was one of the first African American writers to gain international fame and critical acclaim, influencing generations of Black writers and thinkers. Wright spent his later years in exile in France, continuing to write and speak out against injustice around the world.

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, one of the most influential tap dancers in American history, passed away on this day in New York City at the age of 71. Renowned for his graceful, light-footed style and signature stair dance, Robinson broke numerous racial barriers in entertainment. He was among the first Black performers to headline vaudeville shows and had a trailblazing Hollywood career, including iconic dance duets with Shirley Temple.

Despite facing racial segregation, Robinson’s talent and charisma earned him widespread acclaim, and he is celebrated as a pioneer who elevated tap dance to a high art form.

Berry Gordy Jr. was born in Detroit, Michigan on November 28, 1929. He would go on to found Motown Records in 1959, a groundbreaking Black-owned record label that played a pivotal role in bringing Black music into the mainstream. Under his leadership, Motown launched the careers of music legends like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and The Jackson 5. Gordy’s visionary business acumen and focus on artist development helped shape the “Motown Sound”, which bridged racial divides and transformed popular music globally.

The Ku Klux Klan trials began in the Federal District Court in Columbia, South Carolina, marking one of the earliest large-scale federal attempts to protect the civil rights of African Americans after the Civil War. These trials were part of President Ulysses S. Grant’s Enforcement Acts, also known as the Ku Klux Klan Acts, designed to curb racial terrorism by white supremacist groups in the South.

Hundreds of Klansmen were indicted for crimes including murder, assault, intimidation, and conspiracy to deny Black citizens their right to vote and participate in civic life. The trials exposed the widespread, violent backlash against Black political and social progress during Reconstruction and underscored the federal government’s willingness—at least temporarily—to intervene.

James Robinson, an enslaved African American who became a decorated soldier in the Revolutionary War, was born on this day in 1753. He fought heroically at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, where he was awarded a medal for bravery by the Marquis de Lafayette. Robinson had been promised his freedom for his service, but instead, after the war, he was sold back into slavery.

Robinson later regained his freedom and lived into his 100s, becoming one of the last living Black veterans of the American Revolution. His life reflects both the courage and the injustices faced by African Americans in the founding of the United States.