On February 8, 1986, Debi Thomas became the first African American to win the Women’s Singles title at the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships. At the time, she was also a pre-med student at Stanford University, breaking barriers both on the ice and in academia.

On February 8, 1990, CBS suspended veteran 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney for 90 days after The Advocate, a national gay and lesbian newsmagazine, published an article by journalist Chris Bull attributing racist comments to him. According to Bull, Rooney had suggested that “blacks have watered down their genes because the less intelligent ones are the ones that have the most children.” The alleged remarks sparked public outrage and intense media scrutiny. While Rooney denied making the exact statement, CBS acted swiftly in response to the controversy. The incident ignited national conversations about racism, homophobia, and the responsibilities of public figures in media. Rooney was reinstated after public backlash to the suspension itself and returned to 60 Minutes weeks later.

On February 8, 1986, The Oprah Winfrey Show premiered in national syndication, making Oprah Winfrey the first African American woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show. Her groundbreaking success reshaped the landscape of daytime television and opened doors for future generations of Black media professionals.

On February 8, 1985, Brenda Renee Pearson, an official court reporter for the U.S. House of Representatives, became the first Black woman to record a State of the Union address delivered by the President in the House chambers. Her achievement marked a milestone in representation within a vital behind-the-scenes role in government proceedings.

On February 8, 1978, Leon Spinks shocked the world by defeating Muhammad Ali in a split decision to win the world heavyweight boxing championship. The victory came in only Spinks’s eighth professional fight. Later that year, on September 15, Ali reclaimed the title, making history as the first boxer to win the heavyweight championship three times.

On February 8, 1968, Gary Coleman was born in Zion, Illinois. He became a prominent child actor, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in the sitcom Diff’rent Strokes (1978–1986). Coleman’s portrayal made him one of the highest-paid child actors of his time and earned him widespread recognition. Despite health challenges that limited his growth, he left a lasting impact on television and pop culture. ?

On February 8, 1968, South Carolina Highway Patrol officers opened fire on unarmed students during a peaceful protest at South Carolina State College in Orangeburg. The students were protesting segregation at a local bowling alley. Three young Black men—Samuel Hammond, Delano Middleton, and Henry Smith—were killed, and dozens more were injured. This tragic event became known as the Orangeburg Massacre and remains one of the lesser-known but significant events of the Civil Rights Movement.

On February 8, 1944, Harry S. McAlpin became the first African American journalist accredited to attend a White House press conference. Representing the National Negro Publishers Association, McAlpin broke a significant racial barrier in American journalism and the political press corps.

On February 8, 1925, Marcus Garvey, influential Black nationalist and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), entered the federal prison in Atlanta. He was serving a sentence for mail fraud, a conviction many believe was politically motivated due to his outspoken activism for Black empowerment and independence.

On February 8, 1925, students at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, organized a strike to protest the repressive policies of the white administration. The students demanded respect for Black cultural expression, improved academic freedom, and administrative reform, making it one of the earliest organized student protests at a historically Black college.

On February 8, 1894, the U.S. Congress repealed the Enforcement Act of 1871, a key piece of Reconstruction-era legislation that had protected African American voting rights. Its repeal made it easier for states, particularly in the South, to impose discriminatory laws that disenfranchised Black voters and ushered in the era of Jim Crow.