Inventor Otis Boykin was granted U.S. Patent No. 2,972,726 for an improved electrical resistor. His invention played a vital role in the development of guided missiles, IBM computers, and other electronic devices. Boykin held 27 patents in total, including one for a control unit used in the artificial heart pacemaker, significantly advancing medical and military technology.

Eva Jessye, the first African American woman to gain international recognition as a professional choral director, passed away at the age of 97. Known as the “First Lady of Negro Spirituals,” Jessye directed the choir for George Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess and was a key figure in preserving and promoting African American spiritual and folk music. Her contributions helped elevate Black choral traditions on global stages.

African Americans in Tampa, Florida, erupted in protest after the death of 23-year-old Melvin Hair, a Black man who died in police custody following a traffic stop. The incident, involving a white officer, sparked a night of unrest in the College Hill neighborhood. The rebellion highlighted ongoing tensions between the Black community and law enforcement, drawing national attention to issues of police brutality and systemic racism.

Malcolm X, a prominent African American leader and civil rights activist, was assassinated at age 39 while delivering a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. His death marked a pivotal moment in the Black freedom struggle. Known for his powerful oratory and advocacy for Black self-determination, Malcolm X’s legacy continues to influence movements for racial justice worldwide.

John Lewis, a key figure in the American Civil Rights Movement, was born in Troy, Alabama. He would go on to become the founding chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and one of the “Big Six” leaders of the movement. Known for his unwavering commitment to nonviolence, Lewis played a pivotal role in events such as the Selma to Montgomery marches. He later served as a U.S. Congressman for over three decades, championing justice and equality.

Barbara Jordan was born in Houston, Texas. A trailblazing politician, educator, and civil rights leader, she became the first African American woman elected to the Texas Senate and the first Southern African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Renowned for her powerful oratory and dedication to justice, she played a key role during the Watergate hearings and remains a symbol of integrity in American politics.

Nina Simone, born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, North Carolina, was an acclaimed singer, pianist, and civil rights activist. Known for her powerful voice and genre-blending music that incorporated jazz, blues, classical, and soul, Simone used her artistry to speak out against racial injustice. Her songs like “Mississippi Goddam” and “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” became anthems of the Civil Rights Movement.

Thelonious Monk, one of the most influential figures in jazz history, was born on this day in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Known for his unique improvisational style, dissonant harmonies, and contributions to the bebop movement, Monk helped shape modern jazz with compositions like “Round Midnight” and “Straight, No Chaser.” His work remains a cornerstone of jazz music worldwide.

On the day following the death of Frederick Douglass, the North Carolina Legislature—then dominated by a coalition of Black Republicans and white Populists—adjourned its session to honor his legacy. This rare display of interracial political cooperation reflected Douglass’s wide-reaching influence and the strength of Black political power during the Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction eras.