On this day, Christopher J. Perry—pioneering Black journalist, entrepreneur, and advocate for racial equality—passed away. In 1884, he founded The Philadelphia Tribune, which remains the oldest continuously published African-American newspaper in the United States and the largest in the Greater Philadelphia area. Under his leadership, the Tribune became a vital platform for civil rights, education, and economic empowerment in the Black community.

On May 21, 1975, Lowell W. Perry was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), following his nomination by President Gerald R. Ford on May 12, 1975 . He was officially sworn into office on May 27, 1975, in a ceremony held in the White House Rose Garden, with U.S. District Judge Damon J. Keith administering the oath.? Justia Law

Perry’s appointment was historically significant, as he became the first African American to serve as Chairman of the EEOC. His diverse background included roles as an NFL player and coach, a broadcaster, a labor relations professional, and an executive at Chrysler Corporation. At Chrysler, he notably became the company’s first African American plant manager. ?Wikipedia

During his tenure at the EEOC, Perry focused on strengthening the agency’s enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and addressing systemic issues in employment practices. He served as Chairman until 1976, after which he returned to the private sector.

On May 21, 1970, the National Guard was mobilized to respond to escalating protests at Ohio State University. Both Black and white students united in demanding the termination of the university’s ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) programs and calling for the increased admission and support of Black students. The demonstration reflected broader national unrest tied to racial inequality and opposition to the Vietnam War.

Police and National Guardsmen opened fire on student demonstrators at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. The incident resulted in the death of 22-year-old honors student Willie Grimes and injuries to at least five policemen. The confrontation occurred during a time of heightened racial tensions and student activism related to civil rights and police brutality.

On May 21, 1961, Alabama Governor John Patterson declared martial law in Montgomery in response to escalating violence surrounding the Freedom Riders. The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists challenging segregation in interstate bus travel. Upon their arrival in Montgomery, they were met with violent opposition from white mobs, leading to severe beatings of the activists and journalists. ?Time Graphics

That evening, over 1,500 supporters, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., gathered at the First Baptist Church to support the Freedom Riders. A mob of approximately 3,000 white individuals surrounded the church, threatening those inside. Dr. King contacted U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who dispatched federal marshals to protect the congregation. ?EJI Calendar

In response to the unrest, Governor Patterson ordered the Alabama National Guard, under Major General Henry V. Graham, to restore order. The National Guard secured the area, and by early morning, they safely escorted those inside the church to their homes. ?Wikipedia

This intervention was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, highlighting the federal government’s role in protecting activists and enforcing desegregation laws.

On May 21, 1862, Mary Jane Patterson became the first African American woman to earn a bachelor’s degree, graduating from Oberlin College in Ohio. Born to formerly enslaved parents in North Carolina, Patterson moved North and enrolled at Oberlin, which was one of the few colleges at the time accepting Black and female students. Her academic excellence marked a significant breakthrough at a time when education for Black Americans, especially women, was rare and often discouraged. Patterson went on to teach in Washington, D.C., where she later became the first Black principal of the prestigious Preparatory High School for Colored Youth (now Dunbar High School). Her life and career helped pave the way for generations of Black women in higher education and professional leadership roles. Her May 21 graduation is a landmark in the history of Black intellectual achievement and educational equality.

On May 21, 1833, Oberlin College in Ohio took a groundbreaking step toward educational equality by enrolling Black students in its academic programs. It became one of the first colleges in the United States to admit students regardless of race or gender, setting a powerful precedent in the fight for inclusive education.

Significance: This act marked a radical shift in American higher education. At a time when slavery still gripped the South and many Northern institutions excluded African Americans, Oberlin stood as a beacon of progressive values and abolitionist principles. The college later became a hub for anti-slavery activism and a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Legacy: Oberlin’s commitment to racial inclusion helped lay the groundwork for the broader movement toward educational access and civil rights in the United States.

On May 21, 1921, Shuffle Along, one of the first major Broadway musicals written, produced, and performed by African Americans, opened at the 63rd Street Music Hall in New York City. Created by Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake, Flournoy Miller, and Aubrey Lyles, the show was groundbreaking, blending jazz rhythms with sophisticated choreography and offering a new image of Black life. Despite initial financial and racial barriers, Shuffle Along was a massive success and ran for over 500 performances. It helped launch the careers of future stars like Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson, and it directly influenced the Harlem Renaissance by proving Black theatrical productions could be commercially viable and artistically innovative. More than just entertainment, the musical disrupted stereotypes and redefined Black representation in American theater. Its legacy lives on as a critical moment when Black artistry broke through the mainstream cultural ceiling on Broadway.

On May 21, 1964, civil rights organizers gathered to begin training hundreds of volunteers for Mississippi Freedom Summer, a campaign to register African American voters in one of the most violently segregated states in the country. Led by groups like SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) and CORE (Congress of Racial Equality), the volunteers—many of them college students—risked their lives to confront systemic racism. Training emphasized nonviolent resistance and prepared volunteers for the hostility they would face. That summer would see dozens of churches burned, civil rights workers arrested, and the infamous murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. Yet the campaign led to the registration of thousands of new Black voters and laid the groundwork for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. May 21 marks a turning point in Black history—a coordinated, multiracial effort to dismantle Jim Crow through organized grassroots activism.

On May 21, 1979, the “Danville 8”—a group of Black workers and activists—were found guilty in Danville, Illinois, for participating in civil disobedience against racism and unsafe working conditions at General Motors. These workers had been protesting racial discrimination in hiring, promotions, and workplace safety at the GM foundry, which had long marginalized Black laborers. Their conviction sparked outrage among labor and civil rights leaders, who viewed it as a miscarriage of justice and an attack on the right to organize. The Danville 8 became symbols of a broader struggle for Black labor rights and workplace equity in the post-Civil Rights era. Their case revealed the ongoing systemic oppression that Black workers faced even after the formal end of Jim Crow. May 21 is remembered as a key date in the Black labor movement’s fight for dignity, safety, and racial justice on the factory floor.

On May 21, 1983, the world watched as Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever aired on NBC, marking the 25th anniversary of the iconic Black-owned music label that transformed American popular music. Founded by Berry Gordy, Motown had given rise to legends like Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and The Jackson 5. The special brought together Motown’s greatest stars and famously included Michael Jackson’s first televised performance of the Moonwalk during “Billie Jean,” instantly creating a global cultural moment. The broadcast was more than a tribute—it was a celebration of Black musical excellence and entrepreneurship, showcasing the power of Black artistry to transcend racial boundaries and shape global culture. May 21 remains a milestone in music and Black cultural history, capturing the moment when the influence of Motown was cemented in the collective consciousness of America and the world.

While not Black himself, Senator Charles Sumner\’s brutal beating on May 21, 1856, by pro-slavery Congressman Preston Brooks has major significance in Black history. Two days prior, Sumner had delivered a passionate anti-slavery speech condemning the Kansas-Nebraska Act and its authors. Brooks entered the Senate chamber and beat Sumner nearly to death with a cane. The attack stunned the nation and intensified the sectional conflict leading up to the Civil War. For abolitionists and Black Americans, Sumner’s beating symbolized the violent lengths to which the pro-slavery establishment would go to silence dissent. It also made Sumner a martyr for the anti-slavery cause. May 21 is remembered as a flashpoint that exposed the brutality embedded in American politics and underscored how deep the stakes were for Black freedom in the U.S.

On May 21, 1971, Marvin Gaye released his revolutionary album What’s Going On, a soulful, socially conscious masterpiece that tackled police brutality, poverty, environmental decay, and the Vietnam War. Inspired by personal tragedy and the social upheaval of the 1960s, Gaye’s departure from Motown’s traditional love song formula was groundbreaking. Songs like “Mercy Mercy Me” and “Inner City Blues” gave voice to Black America’s pain and resilience in a way that had rarely been heard on mainstream radio. Critics and fans alike hailed the album as a cultural landmark, and it remains one of the most influential works in music history. May 21 marks the day Black soul music evolved into a form of protest and reflection, echoing the lived experience of millions. What’s Going On isn’t just music—it’s an enduring Black artistic statement on justice, humanity, and hope.

On May 21, 1973, Tom Bradley made history by becoming the first African American elected mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Sam Yorty in a historic run-off election. A former police officer and city councilman, Bradley\’s victory shattered racial barriers in one of America’s largest cities and represented a turning point in Black political power on the West Coast. His platform emphasized racial unity, urban development, and economic reform. Bradley would go on to serve five terms, the longest of any Los Angeles mayor, and helped bring the 1984 Olympics to the city. His success paved the way for future Black leaders in major urban centers and symbolized growing Black political agency post-Civil Rights Movement. May 21 stands as a landmark in the evolution of Black leadership and civic power in urban America.

On May 21, 2000, Christopher Emdin became one of the first African American students in the 21st century to win a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, awarded for outstanding academic achievement and leadership. A graduate of the City College of New York and son of Caribbean immigrants, Emdin would go on to become a pioneering science educator and advocate for culturally responsive teaching in urban schools. His win signaled a shift in the profile of elite scholars, highlighting the growing academic excellence among Black students in both STEM and humanities. Emdin’s later work blended science, hip-hop culture, and social justice, reshaping how education could serve Black and brown youth. May 21 is now a symbolic day for celebrating Black academic achievement and the breaking of barriers in traditionally exclusive institutions like Oxford University.

On May 21, 1966, Guyana achieved independence from Britain after decades of colonial rule. As the first English-speaking country in South America to break free from colonialism, Guyana’s liberation was a critical milestone in Black international history. The country\’s first Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham, played a pivotal role in negotiating independence and shaping a new national identity rooted in Afro-Caribbean and Indo-Guyanese unity. The transition sparked a wave of anti-colonial optimism across the Caribbean and Africa. Guyana\’s independence signified not only political freedom but a bold cultural affirmation against centuries of exploitation. Today, Guyana remains a symbol of resistance and resilience, with May 21 celebrated as a turning point in the post-colonial world. Its story reminds us of the enduring spirit of Black sovereignty and the global fight for self-determination. The independence of Guyana helped inspire other Black nations striving for freedom throughout the diaspora.

The First Pan-African Congress officially concluded on May 21, 1904, in London, marking a foundational moment in global Black unity. Led by Henry Sylvester Williams, this congress brought together intellectuals and activists from Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States to confront imperial domination and racial oppression. Though modest in size, its significance was monumental—it formalized the global call for African liberation and diaspora solidarity. Delegates emphasized education, political rights, and the end of colonial rule. The congress planted the seeds for future gatherings and became a forerunner to the 1919 Pan-African Congress organized by W.E.B. Du Bois. It also laid ideological groundwork for 20th-century anti-colonial movements across Africa and the Caribbean. The end of the congress on May 21 reminds us how Black internationalism was born not just in struggle but in collaboration across borders—advancing a vision of liberation that connected continents.

On May 21, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Ghana, deepening his international commitment to Black liberation. Invited by President Kwame Nkrumah, King met with African leaders and emphasized solidarity between the American civil rights movement and African independence struggles. This historic visit followed Ghana’s own independence in 1957 and reinforced Pan-African bonds. King was profoundly moved by Ghana’s symbolic and real steps toward Black sovereignty. He later described the experience as a powerful lesson in dignity and self-governance. The visit also informed his thinking on anti-imperialism, leading him to speak out more forcefully against global oppression and colonialism. King’s presence in Ghana on May 21 symbolized a global alignment of freedom struggles, showing that the fight for civil rights in the U.S. was inseparable from the global quest for Black justice. It’s a reminder of the interconnected fight for liberation across the diaspora.

May 21, 1994, marked Malawi’s first multi-party democratic elections, ending three decades of one-party rule under Hastings Banda. This historic day represented a new democratic wave influenced by South Africa’s transition out of apartheid just weeks earlier. Voters chose Bakili Muluzi, signaling a shift toward accountability, civil rights, and press freedom. The elections were internationally significant, representing a domino effect of democratic reform sweeping post-colonial Africa. While Malawi had remained relatively peaceful under Banda, his authoritarian rule limited freedoms and economic development. The successful elections showed that Black-majority nations could achieve peaceful political transitions. May 21 stands as a day of renewed hope for African governance rooted in the will of the people. The date also underscores the regional ripple effect of liberation movements—what happens in one Black nation echoes through the entire global Black community. Malawi’s democratic step is part of that broader story.

On May 21, 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered her iconic “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio—a moment that resonated internationally. Born into slavery in New York, Truth became a traveling abolitionist and women\’s rights advocate whose message crossed continents. Her powerful words addressed both racial and gender inequality, highlighting the double oppression faced by Black women. The speech was widely circulated and translated, reaching audiences in Europe and the Caribbean, where abolitionist movements were also gaining momentum. Though delivered in the U.S., the speech echoed across the Atlantic, reinforcing that Black liberation must be intersectional. May 21 thus stands as a key date in global Black feminist thought, connecting the struggles of enslaved and formerly enslaved people in the Americas to broader demands for justice. Sojourner Truth’s message remains a cornerstone of both abolitionist and feminist history worldwide.

On May 21, 1966, deposed Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah began his political exile in Guinea following a CIA-backed coup earlier that year. Once the face of African independence and Pan-Africanism, Nkrumah’s forced removal sent shockwaves across the diaspora. Invited to Guinea by President Sékou Touré, Nkrumah was named honorary co-president and continued his liberation advocacy from abroad. His exile marked a turning point in Cold War-era interference in African politics, as the West moved to suppress socialist-leaning Black leaders. Even in exile, Nkrumah’s writings and speeches—like Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism—galvanized African youth and inspired Third World movements. May 21 symbolizes not just his personal transition but the broader risk Black leaders faced when defying Western imperial interests. Nkrumah’s exile reminds us that Black sovereignty often meets resistance—but true visionaries never stop building from wherever they stand.

On May 21, 1833, several African American abolitionists attended the British Anti-Slavery Convention in London, forging vital international alliances. Figures like James McCune Smith and Samuel Ringgold Ward helped connect the U.S. struggle against slavery to global movements. The 1833 convention played a key role in ending slavery across the British Empire later that year, and African Americans were not just observers—they were influencers. Their testimonies about American slavery strengthened British resolve to act. May 21 thus marks a moment when transatlantic Black activism reached new heights. These interactions laid the groundwork for ongoing cross-Atlantic cooperation and helped build a collective identity of global Black resistance. It also proved that African-descended people were not passive recipients of emancipation but active agents of change. This early international collaboration remains a blueprint for global Black solidarity today.

On May 21, 1973, revolutionary activist Stokely Carmichael—later known as Kwame Ture—officially renounced his U.S. citizenship and committed fully to Pan-African politics in Guinea. Born in Trinidad, raised in the Bronx, and politicized through SNCC and the Black Panther Party, Carmichael’s break with America signaled a deep alignment with global Black struggle. He rejected Western imperialism, choosing instead to fight for African socialism and unity alongside Kwame Nkrumah and Sékou Touré. May 21 marks a rare act of radical international defiance—choosing diaspora identity over national allegiance. His shift influenced generations of African diaspora thinkers to look beyond borders for solutions to Black oppression. Ture’s renunciation wasn’t just symbolic—it embodied a lifelong mission to decolonize Black minds and connect global liberation movements. His May 21 decision resonates as a call for radical global citizenship rooted in Black liberation.

On May 21, 1988, South African students led coordinated protests across the nation demanding an end to apartheid education policies and political oppression. The youth-led uprising disrupted schools and universities, attracting global media attention and international solidarity. The protests came during a heightened period of civil unrest and international sanctions against the apartheid regime. Students played a vital role in sustaining resistance movements like the United Democratic Front (UDF) and were critical to the eventual unbanning of the ANC and release of Nelson Mandela. May 21 stands as a testament to how youth activism reshaped global perceptions of apartheid and built pressure for systemic change. These protests also inspired other Black student movements in the U.S., U.K., and Caribbean. Their courage reflects how organized youth have always been a catalyst for dismantling injustice, and why student resistance is a recurring force in Black global history.

On May 21, 2000, African heads of state gathered in Lomé, Togo, to promote the African Renaissance campaign during the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Summit. This initiative emphasized cultural rebirth, economic development, and the reclamation of African identity in the 21st century. Though the OAU was transitioning into the African Union, May 21 marked the beginning of a new ideological phase—one rooted in Afro-optimism and unity. The African Renaissance campaign sought to counter narratives of failure with a vision of prosperity through regional integration, education reform, and tech investment. Inspired by earlier Pan-African thinkers like Cheikh Anta Diop and Thabo Mbeki, this effort called for Africans to shape their own future. May 21 thus symbolizes a modern pivot point in Black international politics—where cultural pride and strategic governance combined to reimagine the continent’s role on the global stage. It remains a touchstone for visionary African policy.

On May 21, 1799, revolutionary forces in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) secured a strategic victory at the Battle of Tiburon during the Haitian Revolution, the only successful slave revolt in history. This lesser-known battle was pivotal in the southern campaign led by General André Rigaud, who commanded mostly free Black and mixed-race troops in the face of brutal French counterinsurgency. The town of Tiburon, located in the southwestern peninsula, became a contested stronghold due to its tactical position near maritime supply routes. The victory disrupted French efforts to regain control of the region and demonstrated the military sophistication of Haitian revolutionary leadership. While the broader Haitian Revolution is often spotlighted, battles like Tiburon remain underrepresented in historical narratives. This May 21 triumph reveals the depth of Black resistance, tactical brilliance, and the high stakes of sovereignty. It underscores Haiti’s foundational role in global Black liberation and anti-colonial movements.