South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth after an absence of 33 years.

Sojourner Truth leaves New York and begins career as an antislavery activist.

The 5th National Negro Convention meets in Philadelphia and urged African Americans to abandon the use of terms “African” and “colored” when referring to “Negro” institutions, organizations, and to themselves.

http://coloredconventions.org/items/show/277

On this date in 1973 – WGPR is given a permit and becomes the 1ST television station owned by African Americans.

On this date in 1966 approximately 2,400 persons attended White House Conference on Civil Rights.

On this date in 1921 – a race riot occurred in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A white mob started the Tulsa race riot, attacking residents and businesses of the African-American community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma in what is considered one of the worst incidents of racial violence in the history of the United States. The attack, carried out on the ground and by air, destroyed more than 35 blocks of the district, at the time the wealthiest black community in the nation. More than 800 people were admitted to hospitals and more than 6,000 black residents were arrested and detained. The Oklahoma Bureau of Vital Statistics officially recorded 39 dead; however, the American Red Cross estimates more than 300.

On this date in 1868 a constitutional convention convened in Austin. The ninety delegates consisted of eighty whites and ten blacks.

On this date in 1864, Solomon George Washington Dill, poor white ally of Black Republicans was assassinated in his home by white terrorists. Dill had allegedly made “incendiary speeches” to South Carolina Blacks.

On this date in 1864, the Florida General Assembly (nineteen Blacks, fifty-seven whites) met in Tallahassee.

On June 1, 1881, the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers—now Tuskegee University—officially opened in Tuskegee, Alabama. Founded by Lewis Adams and Booker T. Washington, the institution quickly became a pillar of Black education in the South. Washington emphasized industrial training, self-reliance, and economic development as keys to Black advancement during Reconstruction. Under his leadership, Tuskegee grew into a world-renowned university that educated generations of African American leaders, scientists, educators, and professionals. Its most famous alumni include George Washington Carver, who revolutionized agricultural science. Tuskegee would later become the training ground for the legendary Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. This date marks a transformative moment in Black education, symbolizing a shift toward institution-building and long-term investment in Black futures.

On the morning of June 1, 1921, the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma—known as \”Black Wall Street\”—lay in ashes after one of the deadliest racial massacres in American history. Over the course of 18 hours, white mobs destroyed more than 35 blocks of Black-owned businesses, homes, schools, and churches. The attack left up to 300 Black residents dead and thousands homeless. Sparked by a false accusation against a Black teenager, the violence was fueled by deep-seated resentment toward Black prosperity. Greenwood had been a model of Black economic independence, with thriving banks, theaters, law offices, and shops. The massacre\’s long suppression from national memory was a deliberate attempt to erase this legacy. Today, June 1 serves as both a day of mourning and remembrance, as well as a call for reparative justice and historical truth.

Born on June 1, 1937, in Memphis, Tennessee, Morgan Freeman would become one of the most iconic and respected actors in American cinema. Known for his deep, commanding voice and dignified presence, Freeman\’s career spans over five decades, including films like Glory, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption, and Million Dollar Baby (for which he won an Academy Award). He also broke ground narrating history documentaries and portraying figures like Nelson Mandela and God. Freeman\’s rise challenged Hollywood stereotypes, offering nuanced portrayals of Black masculinity, wisdom, and moral complexity. Beyond acting, he has been an advocate for racial equality, education, and environmental issues. His birth on June 1 marks the arrival of a cultural force whose legacy continues to influence generations of actors and audiences alike.

On June 1, 2014, Marilyn Mosby won the Democratic primary for State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, becoming, at age 34, one of the youngest chief prosecutors in a major U.S. city. Mosby gained national attention in 2015 when she brought charges against six officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray, a Black man who died in police custody. Her decision was seen as a bold step toward holding law enforcement accountable in an era of heightened scrutiny around police violence. Though the cases ended in acquittals, Mosby’s stance sparked a national dialogue on prosecutorial power and racial justice. Her election represents a significant shift in the role of Black women within the legal system, asserting a new vision of justice shaped by community accountability and systemic reform.

Born June 1, 1870, Robert Sengstacke Abbott founded The Chicago Defender in 1905, one of the most influential Black newspapers in American history. At a time when mainstream media ignored or distorted Black lives, Abbott used the Defender to expose racial violence, promote civil rights, and encourage the Great Migration—urging Southern Blacks to move North for opportunity and safety. His newspaper, secretly circulated in the South, became a lifeline of information and hope. Abbott’s work helped shape national consciousness around race and catalyzed Black political mobilization. By the 1920s, The Chicago Defender boasted over 200,000 readers. His June 1 birth is a reminder of the power of independent Black media to disrupt dominant narratives and fuel social change.

On June 1, 1883, Sojourner Truth gave her final public speech in Battle Creek, Michigan. A former slave turned abolitionist, Truth had spent decades traveling the country delivering fiery speeches on race, gender, and justice. Best known for her 1851 “Ain’t I a Woman?” address, Truth was a fierce advocate for both abolition and women’s rights. Her final appearance was a testament to her enduring influence and resilience. Despite illness and age, she stood before a crowd to reiterate her lifelong message: the indivisibility of human dignity. Her passing later that year marked the end of an era, but her legacy continued through generations of activists. June 1 thus becomes a symbolic day to honor her final bow and the prophetic courage of Black women leaders in the long struggle for freedom.

Though earlier events unfolded in February, June 1, 1956, marked renewed legal challenges to the University of Alabama’s refusal to reinstate Autherine Lucy, the first Black student to be admitted. After mobs violently protested her enrollment in February, the university expelled her on spurious grounds. On June 1, her legal team resumed efforts to force the university to honor its commitment. Though ultimately unsuccessful at that time, Lucy’s courage laid the groundwork for future integration efforts. Her ordeal spotlighted the virulent resistance to desegregation in higher education and the legal complexities of civil rights battles. Autherine Lucy would later be honored by the same institution that once rejected her. June 1 reminds us that legal battles for Black inclusion are often prolonged, painful, and generational.

On June 1, 1980, Andrea Hollen became the first African-American woman to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. A Rhodes Scholar finalist and top academic performer, Hollen broke dual barriers of race and gender at one of the nation’s most elite military institutions. Her accomplishment came just four years after West Point began admitting women, and during a time when Black cadets faced intense discrimination. Hollen’s achievement signaled a slow but steady shift in military inclusion and inspired future generations of women of color to pursue leadership roles in defense and service. Her story is a milestone in the ongoing journey to diversify America\’s most historically exclusive institutions, and June 1 stands as a testament to perseverance in the face of structural resistance.

While the Day of the African Child is officially recognized on June 16, many African nations also observe June 1 as International Day of the Child, a day to affirm the rights, protection, and development of young people. Across countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia, June 1 has become a platform to address issues such as child labor, education access, and healthcare inequities affecting Black children globally. The day fosters a pan-African commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders, scholars, and visionaries. In schools, community centers, and government offices, children’s voices are centered, and future-oriented policies are championed. June 1 acts as a continental mirror, reminding societies of their obligation to protect and empower their youngest citizens, especially in postcolonial contexts marked by economic struggle and opportunity.

On June 1, 1994, President Bill Clinton awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress from the Deep South. Renowned for her powerful oratory during the Nixon impeachment hearings, Jordan became a national symbol of integrity, constitutional faith, and Black political excellence. Her keynote speech at the 1976 Democratic Convention remains one of the most lauded in American political history. In later years, she focused on ethics, civil liberties, and immigration reform. Awarding her the Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor—acknowledged her lifelong commitment to justice, truth, and democratic ideals. June 1 commemorates the recognition of a voice that helped shape the moral compass of American public life.

On June 1, 1994, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela officially took office as South Africa’s first Black president, marking the end of apartheid and the beginning of a multiracial democracy. After more than 27 years in prison and decades of anti-apartheid activism, Mandela led the African National Congress to a resounding victory in the country’s first fully democratic elections. His presidency symbolized global Black resilience and reconciliation. Mandela’s leadership laid the foundation for South Africa\’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a new constitutional framework. The moment was watched live around the world and is commemorated as a triumph of dignity over oppression. Mandela’s inauguration marked not just a national but an international victory for decolonization movements, inspiring oppressed people globally to pursue justice, peace, and political transformation. June 1, 1994, stands as a keystone in Pan-African political history and Black international memory.

On June 1, 1802, after months of resisting French reinvasion, Toussaint Louverture formally assumed control over all of Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti), consolidating leadership against Napoleon’s forces. Though France had reinstated slavery in its other colonies, Louverture maintained abolition in Saint-Domingue, affirming the island\’s commitment to freedom. His political acumen and military brilliance had already secured victories over French, Spanish, and British forces. By June 1802, Louverture had outmaneuvered General Leclerc and issued a constitution proclaiming himself Governor for Life—an unprecedented assertion of Black sovereign authority in the Western Hemisphere. This moment terrified European empires and emboldened freedom movements globally. Though Louverture would be betrayed and captured weeks later, his June consolidation of power stands as a decisive chapter in the making of the first Black republic and the most successful slave revolt in history.

On June 1, 1962, Uganda’s first indigenous post-independence cabinet was sworn in, just months before official independence from Britain. Prime Minister Milton Obote led the transitional government, representing a new era of African self-rule. This day marked the beginning of Uganda’s efforts to dismantle colonial structures and define national identity amid the Cold War and Pan-African momentum. The cabinet included figures from the Uganda People’s Congress and traditional kingdoms, reflecting a fragile but hopeful coalition. Despite tensions that would later erupt, this inaugural post-colonial government was seen as a model of African political maturity and nation-building. The cabinet\’s swearing-in on June 1 is still studied by scholars examining the complexities of decolonization, federalism, and ethnic pluralism in East Africa. It signaled the rise of Ugandan voices in shaping their destiny—a milestone in continental Black governance.

On June 1, 1834, the British colony of Barbados formally abolished its infamous slave code in anticipation of full emancipation. The Barbados Slave Code, introduced in 1661, was one of the most brutal legal frameworks governing the treatment of enslaved Africans and served as a model for other Caribbean and American colonies. Its repeal symbolized the collapse of legally sanctioned racial terror in one of Britain\’s wealthiest sugar economies. Though freedom would technically come with the Emancipation Act in August, June 1 marked a legal turning point. The code’s abolition was not only a domestic shift but also influenced global abolitionist momentum. Barbados’ step signaled the beginning of the end for a centuries-long plantation economy based on Black labor. The moment is honored in Caribbean legal history as a day when unjust laws began to give way to human rights and dignity.

On June 1, 1739, the British colonial government in Jamaica signed a second treaty with the Leeward Maroons, descendants of Africans who had escaped slavery and formed independent communities in the island’s mountains. The treaty, while controversial, recognized Maroon autonomy in exchange for peace and their promise to return newly escaped slaves. This agreement was a rare acknowledgment of Black sovereignty by a European empire. Led by legendary leaders like Cudjoe and Nanny of the Maroons, these communities had successfully waged guerrilla warfare against British forces. The June 1 treaty helped preserve Maroon land rights and culture, elements that survive to this day. Though complicated by compromises, the treaty is a landmark in Black resistance diplomacy. It illustrates the strategic genius of African descendants in the Americas and remains a cornerstone in the study of maroonage, freedom, and negotiated power.

At the June 1, 1959 All-African Peoples\’ Conference in Accra, Ghana, Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba delivered a landmark speech calling for immediate independence from Belgium and African unity. Speaking before future presidents and revolutionary thinkers, Lumumba’s rhetoric electrified the assembly. He denounced colonial exploitation and warned against neo-colonial manipulation, arguing for an independent economic and political future guided by Pan-African solidarity. His address helped consolidate support for the Congo’s independence movement, which would achieve success the following year. This moment placed Lumumba at the forefront of Black internationalism and exposed the ideological divide between moderate and radical African nationalists. June 1 stands as a moment when the Congo’s future was articulated not just as national liberation, but as part of a continental and global Black freedom trajectory. Lumumba\’s words echoed from Accra to Harlem, catalyzing revolutionary consciousness.

Though the formal election results were declared on June 11, 1987, John David Beckett Stewart (along with Diane Abbott, Paul Boateng, and Bernie Grant) secured a winning vote share by June 1, making him one of Britain’s first Black MPs. Stewart, of Jamaican descent, represented a new multicultural Britain grappling with the legacies of empire, migration, and race. His election into Parliament was a historic breach of the British political establishment’s racial homogeneity. June 1, 1987, was a signal that post-colonial subjects had not only arrived in Britain but were now legislating its future. Stewart’s presence in Parliament opened doors for broader debates on policing, housing, education, and immigration. While Diane Abbott is more widely known as the first Black woman MP, Stewart’s early victory on June 1 deserves recognition as a breakthrough in Black political representation in Europe.

On June 1, 1951, the first contingent of Ethiopian troops arrived in Korea as part of the United Nations forces fighting in the Korean War. Under Emperor Haile Selassie, Ethiopia was the only independent African country to contribute combat troops to the conflict. The elite \”Kagnew Battalion,\” named after a historic Ethiopian battle, would go on to earn international respect for their discipline and bravery. Their deployment demonstrated Ethiopia’s geopolitical autonomy and Pan-African commitment to international solidarity. Though far from home, these soldiers represented the aspirations of African nations to participate fully on the global stage. The June 1 arrival marked the first time Black African troops served in a U.N.-mandated conflict under their own national flag. It underscored Ethiopia’s unique postcolonial status and served as a symbol of African modernity, courage, and strategic alliance in a polarized Cold War era.

On June 1, 1958, Trinidadian-born activist Claudia Jones launched the West Indian Gazette in London, the first major Black British newspaper. At a time of racial hostility, especially after the 1958 Notting Hill race riots, the Gazette offered a platform for Caribbean migrants, anti-racist organizers, and labor activists. It reported on civil rights movements in the U.S., decolonization in Africa, and local British racism—connecting global Black struggles. The paper became the voice of a transatlantic Black left and laid the groundwork for what would become the Notting Hill Carnival. Claudia Jones, a communist, feminist, and former political prisoner in the U.S., helped forge a distinctly Black British political consciousness. June 1 marks not just a media milestone but a defiant act of cultural self-representation and resistance. Her paper remains a cornerstone of diasporic media history.

On June 1, 1975, the MPLA (People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola) declared a provisional government and assumed control over most of Angola’s territory following the Portuguese withdrawal. After years of armed struggle and global Cold War intervention, this announcement set the stage for Angola’s official independence in November. Backed by Cuba and the Soviet Union, the MPLA positioned itself as a vanguard of African socialism and anti-imperialist resistance. The June 1 declaration was both political and symbolic—it represented a break from European colonization and an alignment with broader liberation ideologies across the Black world. It also sparked fears in the West, resulting in support for rival factions like UNITA. Despite ongoing civil war, June 1 marks a foundational moment in Black liberation and global South geopolitics. The Angolan struggle influenced Black political thought from Harlem to Havana.