On this date in 1881, the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University) was established in Tuskegee, Alabama. This institution, founded by Booker T. Washington, was a pivotal moment in the history of higher education for African Americans. Tuskegee University became a key institution in providing education and vocational training to African Americans in the post-Reconstruction era, with an emphasis on practical skills that could help them improve their economic standing.

The establishment of Tuskegee and similar institutions represented a major step forward in advancing education and opportunities for African Americans, particularly in the South, during a time when access to education was severely limited for people of color. Tuskegee played a key role in training leaders, educators, and skilled professionals, and it remains one of the most historically significant African American universities.