On this day, Doris “Dorie” Miller, a Messman Third Class in the United States Navy, was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Amidst chaos and under enemy fire, Miller manned an anti-aircraft gun—despite having no formal training—and helped move wounded sailors to safety. He became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross, the Navy’s third-highest honor at the time, marking a pivotal moment in the fight against racial discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces.

On this day in 1975, Ezzard Charles, former world heavyweight boxing champion, died at the age of 53 in Chicago. Known as the “Cincinnati Cobra,” Charles was celebrated for his tactical skill and resilience in the ring. He held the heavyweight title from 1949 to 1951 and was the first Black man to win the title after Joe Louis. Beyond boxing, Charles was a cultural icon who paved the way for future generations of Black athletes.

In a landmark referendum, over 90% of white Australians voted in favor of two constitutional amendments—one of which allowed Aboriginal Australians to be counted in the national census for the first time. This change also empowered the federal government to make laws specifically for Aboriginal people, ending their exclusive governance under state law. The vote marked a significant turning point in the fight for Indigenous rights and recognition in Australia.

On May 27, 1958, Ernest Green became the first African American student to graduate from Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. As a member of the historic “Little Rock Nine,” Green walked across the stage alongside 600 white classmates, marking a pivotal moment in the struggle for school integration during the Civil Rights Movement. His graduation came despite a year of intense harassment, violence, and national attention following the 1957 crisis over desegregation.

Louis Gossett Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York. A trailblazer in American cinema, Gossett made history by becoming the first African American male to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which he earned for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman. His career spans decades, with powerful performances on stage and screen that helped open doors for Black actors in Hollywood.

Tensions exploded in East St. Louis, Illinois, when a race riot broke out amid growing hostility toward African American workers who had migrated north during the Great Migration. On this day, violence erupted, resulting in the death of at least one Black man. This marked the beginning of a wave of unrest that would escalate into one of the deadliest race riots in American history by July 1917, ultimately claiming dozens of lives and leaving the Black community devastated.

In one of the earliest major Civil War battles involving Black troops, the First and Third Louisiana Native Guards—composed of free Black soldiers—launched six courageous but ultimately unsuccessful charges against Confederate fortifications at Port Hudson, Louisiana. Among the fallen was Captain André Cailloux, a former enslaved man turned Union officer, who died leading his men with exceptional bravery. His death became a symbol of Black valor and sacrifice in the Union cause.

The Louisiana Colored Volunteers led an assault on Confederate breastworks at Port Hudson, marking the first major battle in which African American troops took part during the Civil War. Their bravery helped challenge prevailing myths about Black soldiers’ effectiveness and laid the groundwork for broader enlistment of Black troops in the Union Army.

On May 30, 1965, Vivian Malone became the first Black student to graduate from the University of Alabama. Her graduation marked a historic victory for civil rights, just two years after Governor George Wallace’s infamous “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” attempted to block her enrollment. Malone’s perseverance paved the way for greater integration in Southern universities.

On May 27, 1977, Louis Gossett Jr. received the Best Supporting Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in the acclaimed film Sadat. This milestone was a major breakthrough for Black actors in international cinema. Gossett’s performance, portraying Egyptian President Anwar Sadat with depth and dignity, gained global recognition and helped reshape Hollywood’s understanding of Black talent beyond stereotypical roles. His win paved the way for his later Oscar-winning role in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), and underscored the growing influence of Black performers on the world stage. The Cannes award spotlighted the global resonance of African diasporic stories and challenged the industry to embrace more inclusive storytelling. Gossett’s achievement remains a pivotal moment in the ongoing journey toward racial equity in film. His legacy continues to inspire Black actors aiming for excellence in both domestic and international markets.

On May 27, 1979, Guion S. Bluford Jr. was selected as a NASA astronaut, becoming the first African American to travel into space just four years later. A former Air Force pilot and engineer, Bluford’s selection marked a pivotal moment in aerospace history. His inclusion in the astronaut corps reflected NASA’s growing commitment to diversity and represented a symbolic shift for Black Americans who had long been excluded from space exploration. When he launched aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983, Bluford inspired generations to pursue STEM careers. His May 27 selection was not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of broader civil rights victories that pushed institutions like NASA to recognize Black excellence. Today, Bluford is a revered figure whose legacy continues to drive inclusion and representation in science and technology fields worldwide.

On May 27, 1986, South Africa’s anti-apartheid groups organized a National Day of Mourning to honor the victims of state violence and protest ongoing racial oppression. The day saw widespread work stoppages, prayer vigils, and marches across Black townships. Sparked by the state’s brutal crackdown on dissent, including numerous killings of youth activists, the event drew international attention to the regime’s cruelty. It mobilized global solidarity campaigns that pressured Western governments to implement sanctions against the apartheid state. The May 27 protests played a key role in building momentum for Nelson Mandela’s eventual release and the dismantling of apartheid in the early 1990s. This day remains a powerful example of how coordinated, peaceful resistance can accelerate transformative political change and expose human rights abuses on a global scale.

On May 27, 1967, the Watts Writers Workshop was formally established in Los Angeles as a cultural response to the 1965 Watts Rebellion. Founded by Budd Schulberg and supported by Black poets and artists, the Workshop became a vital creative outlet for inner-city youth. It empowered Black writers to explore themes of identity, injustice, and liberation. The project nurtured talents like Quincy Troupe and Stanley Crouch, offering a platform for community storytelling through poetry, theater, and journalism. The May 27 founding date marks the moment when art became a form of resistance and rehabilitation. The Workshop influenced similar programs nationwide and proved that creative expression could foster healing, education, and activism in underserved communities. Though eventually destroyed by fire in the 1970s under mysterious circumstances, its legacy endures as a pioneering model of Black cultural empowerment.

On May 27, 1961, Sierra Leone officially declared itself a republic, just over a month after gaining independence from British colonial rule. The transition was marked by the appointment of Sir Milton Margai as the country’s first Prime Minister and later ceremonial president. For African diasporic observers, Sierra Leone’s move toward full sovereignty represented a powerful symbol of post-colonial liberation. The nation, historically linked to formerly enslaved African Americans and West Indians who resettled there, stood as a beacon of Black self-determination. May 27 is remembered in Sierra Leone and across the diaspora as a day when African governance reasserted itself amid Cold War pressures and neocolonial influences. The event remains deeply intertwined with pan-Africanist dreams of Black autonomy, unity, and cultural resurgence across the continent and beyond.

On May 27, 2007, Columbia/Legacy Records released The Complete On the Corner Sessions, showcasing Miles Davis’s experimental jazz-funk recordings from the early 1970s. These sessions, initially misunderstood, became foundational to hip-hop, electronic, and Afro-futurist music. Davis, a genius of innovation, fused jazz, rock, and funk in ways that anticipated musical movements decades ahead of their time. The 2007 release on May 27 reignited interest in Davis’s boundary-pushing creativity and his commitment to Black sonic evolution. By highlighting these previously unreleased materials, the compilation helped reframe Davis as not only a jazz legend but a prophet of Black modernity. Today, On the Corner is recognized as a crucial turning point in both Black music history and global sound culture.

On May 27, 1969, major newspapers and television networks spotlighted the Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast for Children Program, sparking national debate on food insecurity and government responsibility. Though launched quietly in 1969, the program quickly expanded to dozens of cities. By May 27, media coverage had amplified both its impact and the backlash it received from authorities. The initiative served thousands of meals each week, confronting systemic poverty while challenging the state’s neglect of Black communities. It also reframed the Panthers as not only revolutionary but humanitarian. The coverage forced lawmakers to take poverty and hunger in urban America more seriously, eventually influencing federal food programs. May 27 stands as a reminder of grassroots brilliance, where Black-led solutions prefigured policies the government would later emulate.

On May 27, 2005, Toni Morrison became one of the few African Americans to receive an honorary degree from Oxford University. The recognition of her literary genius by one of the world’s oldest institutions reflected Morrison’s global influence as a writer, scholar, and cultural critic. Known for masterpieces like Beloved and Song of Solomon, Morrison’s work elevated Black narratives within mainstream literature and academia. The Oxford honor, bestowed on May 27, was more than symbolic—it confirmed the universality of her storytelling and the intellectual depth of Black literary tradition. Her presence in that hallowed space challenged the Eurocentric canon and expanded it to include the depth, trauma, and beauty of Black life. This milestone is celebrated in literary and cultural circles as a validation of diasporic Black voices at the highest academic levels.

African Liberation Day, though officially commemorated on May 25, is often observed on adjacent days like May 27 through marches, conferences, and celebrations across the Black diaspora. The day commemorates the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union), symbolizing the continent’s united struggle against colonialism and imperialism. In many cities, especially in the U.S. and Caribbean, May 27 observances have included rallies focused on political education, cultural pride, and calls for pan-African solidarity. From Malcolm X to Kwame Ture, African Liberation Day has served as a platform for radical Black thought and internationalist resistance. Celebrating it on May 27 in some communities reflects the flexible, grassroots nature of pan-African organizing. The annual commemoration remains a cornerstone in the global Black calendar, affirming collective struggle, self-determination, and cultural unity.

On May 27, 1974, the First Independence Bank of Mississippi received its charter, becoming one of the few Black-owned financial institutions in the state’s history. The bank was created to address discriminatory lending practices and provide Black Mississippians with access to capital for housing, business, and education. During a time when traditional banks refused to serve Black customers fairly, this new institution represented economic resistance and community empowerment. The May 27 charter marked a turning point in Mississippi’s financial landscape, offering new hope in a state long marked by racial inequality. Although many Black-owned banks have since faced consolidation and closure, their legacy of economic autonomy remains vital. This milestone reminds us of the enduring need for financial institutions that serve Black communities with equity, integrity, and self-determination at the core.

On May 27, 1927, Austin Hansen was born in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Hansen became one of the most prolific Black photographers of the 20th century, capturing over a million images that documented African American life in Harlem and beyond. From civil rights leaders and entertainers to local community members, Hansen’s lens preserved a visual archive of Black New York that spanned more than six decades. He was the first Black photographer hired by a major New York daily and maintained a studio in Harlem, often donating his work to schools and cultural institutions. Despite his profound impact, Hansen remains largely underrecognized in mainstream historical narratives. His archive, housed at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, is a vital resource for understanding the richness of Black life and culture in the 20th century. Hansen’s legacy endures as a visual griot of Black resilience and excellence.

On May 27, 1935, Ramsey Lewis was born in Chicago, Illinois. A jazz pianist and composer, Lewis gained prominence with his trio in the 1960s, blending jazz with other genres to create a crossover appeal. His 1965 hit \”The \’In\’ Crowd\” won a Grammy Award and brought jazz to a broader audience. Despite his contributions to popularizing jazz and mentoring young artists, Lewis\’s work is often underrepresented in mainstream discussions of jazz history. Beyond performance, he was dedicated to music education and hosted radio programs to promote jazz appreciation. His efforts helped bridge the gap between jazz and popular music, influencing generations of musicians.