Baltimore Orioles Manager Frank Robinson names Assistant General Manager on this date.  Robinson was the third African American to become an Assistant General Manager.

On this day in 1989, Four African Americans win Tony Awards for Black and Blue

On June 4, 1973, Arna Bontemps, a key literary figure of the Harlem Renaissance, passed away at age 71. A poet, novelist, historian, and children’s author, Bontemps was known for his rich contributions to Black literature and his chronicling of African American history. His works, such as Black Thunder and God Sends Sunday, explored themes of resistance, cultural identity, and Black life in both the South and North. He collaborated with other luminaries like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston and helped preserve African American history through his work as a librarian and archivist at Fisk University. His death marked the end of an era, but his influence lived on in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 70s. Bontemps\’s legacy remains foundational to Black literary studies and African American cultural preservation.

On June 4, 1972, Black activist, scholar, and former UCLA professor Angela Davis was acquitted of all charges related to a 1970 courtroom shootout in Marin County, California. Davis had been charged with aiding and abetting kidnapping and murder after guns registered in her name were used in an attempted courtroom escape. Her trial was highly politicized, garnering international attention and sparking the global “Free Angela” movement. The jury found that Davis had no direct involvement in planning the incident. Her acquittal became a landmark moment in the struggle for civil rights and prison justice. Angela Davis would go on to become a leading figure in academic, feminist, and abolitionist circles, authoring several books on race, class, and the carceral state. Her case remains a powerful symbol of resistance, criminal justice reform, and state surveillance of Black radical activism in America.

On this day in 1946, Mississippi Valley State University was founded in Itta Bena, Mississippi.

On this day in 1922, Samuel L. Gravely was born. Samuel Gravely was appointed captain of the Navy Destroyer Escort, U.S.S. Falgout, the first African American to command a United States warship. He later received the title of Rear Admiral, a first for an African American navy-man.

On this day in 1832, the Third National Black convention met in Philadelphia with twenty-nine delegates from eight states. Henry Sipkins of New York was elected president.

On June 4, 1967, Black students at the University of Mississippi organized a large protest demanding racial justice, full integration, and equal treatment on campus. This protest occurred five years after James Meredith had integrated the university in 1962, but many barriers to equity still remained. Black students called for more Black faculty, the establishment of an African American studies program, and an end to daily racism on campus. The protest marked a broader trend of student-led activism throughout the 1960s, particularly among historically white institutions in the South. It was a pivotal moment in Mississippi\’s slow transition away from Jim Crow-era policies and an example of youth organizing pushing academic institutions toward inclusivity. Though slow-moving, the demonstration helped pave the way for incremental changes in hiring, curriculum, and campus climate across many southern universities.

On June 4, 1965, Edward Brooke made history by winning the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts. He would later become the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote (in 1966). A moderate Republican and former Attorney General of Massachusetts, Brooke’s nomination was a significant milestone in American political history, especially at a time when civil rights legislation was still being debated in Congress. Brooke appealed to a broad coalition of voters, advocating for civil rights, affordable housing, and public education. His political success challenged assumptions about race and electability in national politics and marked a new phase in African American political power in the North. Brooke would go on to serve two terms in the Senate and play a key role in pushing for housing reform, voting rights enforcement, and other bipartisan legislation aimed at improving equality.

Although the Red Summer is more broadly associated with events later in 1919, June 4 marked early racial tensions in Chicago, where rumors and labor unrest began to turn into public confrontations. African American veterans returning from World War I sought jobs and equality but were met with hostility from white workers fearing job competition. On June 4, small confrontations in Chicago\’s South Side neighborhoods foreshadowed the deadly July race riots. This early violence was a spark in a season of over 25 race riots across the country, most notably in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Elaine, Arkansas. These eruptions revealed the fragile social fabric of a postwar America and emphasized the struggle for civil rights, economic opportunity, and safety in northern cities—where many African Americans had migrated during the Great Migration.

On June 4, 1984, Stephanie Adams became the first Black contestant to represent Arkansas in the Miss America pageant system. Her inclusion symbolized a shift in the historically white-dominated pageant world, which had long excluded or marginalized Black women. While Vanessa Williams would go on to win Miss America later that same year (becoming the first Black woman to do so), Adams’s participation marked a local breakthrough in a Southern state with deep segregationist history. Her success reflected growing national support for diversity and equal representation in mainstream beauty and media industries. Though facing racist backlash, Adams remained a dignified symbol of progress and helped open doors for future generations of Black women in pageantry, entertainment, and public representation.

On June 4, 1961, several Freedom Riders were arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, for violating segregation laws at a Greyhound bus terminal. These riders were part of a larger, coordinated movement challenging the federal government to enforce Supreme Court rulings that declared segregated interstate travel unconstitutional. The arrests in Jackson were part of a deliberate strategy to “fill the jails” and draw national attention to the brutality and injustice of Jim Crow laws. Hundreds of Freedom Riders—Black and white—were jailed throughout the summer, sparking outrage and eventually leading to federal intervention. The June 4 arrests in Jackson are often cited as a turning point that increased pressure on the Kennedy administration to act. This moment remains a testament to the bravery of young activists and the power of nonviolent resistance in American civil rights history.

On June 4, 1990, Emmanuel Carter, who served briefly as acting president, formally welcomed Joan Yuille-Williams as the first Black woman to serve as President of the Senate in Trinidad and Tobago. While often overshadowed by other political events, this moment was a significant marker in Caribbean political representation. Yuille-Williams had long been active in education and politics, and her elevation reflected growing recognition of Black women\’s leadership in post-colonial societies. Her role gave her authority to preside over legislative proceedings and guide parliamentary debates. This historic appointment underscored the importance of gender equity and African-descended women’s political empowerment in the Caribbean, where colonial legacies of exclusion had long persisted. Her leadership paved the way for other women in Caribbean governance.

On June 4, 2008 (following the June 3 primary results), Barack Obama officially clinched the Democratic Party’s nomination for President, becoming the first African American to do so. Though the majority of delegates were tallied on June 3, the Democratic National Committee formally confirmed the count on June 4, marking a turning point in American political history. Obama\’s nomination electrified a generation, symbolizing a new possibility for Black leadership on the global stage. His grassroots campaign, powered by a message of hope and change, overcame historic racial barriers in U.S. presidential politics. While the election would not be held until November, this moment confirmed Obama’s position as the Democratic challenger to John McCain. It also inspired widespread reflection on race, identity, and progress in the United States, setting the stage for the election of the nation\’s first Black president later that year.

Cyril Lionel Robert James was born on June 4, 1898, in Trinidad and Tobago. A literary critic, historian, and Marxist intellectual, James was one of the 20th century’s most influential voices on anti-colonialism and Black liberation. His most famous work, The Black Jacobins, recounts the Haitian Revolution through the life of Toussaint Louverture. James championed Pan-Africanism and self-determination for colonized people while also criticizing racism in Western socialism. He became an intellectual beacon across Africa and the Caribbean during decolonization, inspiring independence movements and radical thought. James’ global reach and insistence on the agency of Black people in shaping their destinies left a permanent mark on revolutionary thought. His birth marked the arrival of a man who would influence politics, history, and literature across continents.

On June 4, 1838, Bermuda officially ended the practice of slavery, aligning with Britain’s wider emancipation efforts across its empire. Though the Slavery Abolition Act had been passed in 1833, it took several years for full emancipation to be enforced across British colonies. In Bermuda, over 4,000 enslaved Africans were freed. The day became known as Bermuda’s Freedom Day. Despite emancipation, freed Blacks in Bermuda faced systemic discrimination, exclusion from power, and economic marginalization. Nevertheless, they built resilient communities and contributed significantly to Bermudian society. June 4 stands as a local yet globally connected milestone in the history of abolition. It remains a day of reflection and celebration of Black resilience and freedom in the Caribbean.

Grandmaster Caz (Curtis Brown) was born on June 4, 1973, in the Bronx, New York. Though primarily recognized within U.S. cultural history, his influence on global hip-hop cannot be overstated. Caz helped lay the lyrical foundation of rap and DJ culture, becoming a member of the legendary Cold Crush Brothers. His rhyme style, charisma, and pioneering stage performances helped shape what would become a multibillion-dollar global industry and artistic movement. Hip-hop would soon reach Africa, Latin America, and Europe, becoming a voice for oppressed youth worldwide. Grandmaster Caz’s contributions helped spark a global cultural revolution rooted in Black expression, protest, and storytelling.

On June 4, 1979, Ghanaian filmmaker Kwaw Ansah won top honors at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) for his film Love Brewed in the African Pot. The romantic drama, deeply rooted in postcolonial Ghanaian identity and class struggle, became a continental success. Ansah’s win was significant, as it marked a turning point for English-speaking African cinema, often overshadowed by Francophone productions. His work emphasized African self-representation and dignity, pushing back against Western stereotypes. This victory cemented Ghana’s place in African film history and inspired a generation of storytellers committed to decolonizing African media.

On June 4, 1844, Haitian forces under President Charles Rivière-Hérard launched an invasion of the newly independent Dominican Republic. The DR had declared independence earlier that year, and Haiti sought to reassert control, fearing foreign influence near its borders. This invasion was part of a series of military conflicts that shaped the tense, often fraught relationship between the two nations. Though the invasion was ultimately repelled, it reflected the geopolitical complexities of post-colonial Caribbean politics. The conflict had long-term effects on Black identity, migration, and nationalism on both sides of the island of Hispaniola. It’s a significant but often overlooked date in Caribbean history.

Zozibini Tunzi was born on June 4, 1993, in Tsolo, South Africa. Though she would rise to global fame in 2019 as Miss Universe, her birth symbolizes the emergence of a new generation of global African leadership and cultural influence. When Tunzi won Miss Universe, she made history as one of the few Black women to claim the title, wearing her natural hair and speaking out boldly about colorism, representation, and gender-based violence. Her victory resonated across the African diaspora and redefined global beauty standards. Her birthday on June 4 is now a point of celebration for those who see her as a role model for African pride and female empowerment.

Though official independence is celebrated on June 25, Mozambique’s final anti-colonial offensives and internal power consolidation accelerated dramatically by June 4, 1975, with the departure of key Portuguese administrators. The revolutionary FRELIMO movement, led by Samora Machel, had been building toward this moment through decades of armed resistance. By early June, FRELIMO forces had seized key infrastructure and begun establishing African-led governance. June 4 represents the end of effective Portuguese control. This shift was part of a broader continental wave of liberation, and Mozambique’s struggle inspired other movements across Southern Africa, particularly in Angola, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The date reflects the near-final unraveling of European colonialism in Lusophone Africa.

On June 4, 1938, African American boxer Joe Louis successfully defended his heavyweight title against Nathan Mann at Yankee Stadium. While his 1938 fight with German Max Schmeling is more famous, this defense was crucial in solidifying Louis as a dominant force in boxing. His victories carried immense symbolic weight across the African diaspora, as he represented Black excellence in a racially hostile era. From Jamaica to Nigeria, Louis was seen as a beacon of pride and resistance. His fights were broadcast and written about globally, and many Black communities held communal listening sessions. The June 4 win kept the momentum of his legend alive just weeks before his legendary fight with Schmeling.

On June 4, 1979, Saint Lucia held its first general election after gaining independence from Britain earlier that year. The Saint Lucia Labour Party, led by Allan Louisy, won a majority, but it was Sir John Compton—leader of the opposition and founding father of Saint Lucian independence—who would eventually return to lead the nation and shape its modern political landscape. While Louisy took office first, it was Compton’s pivotal role in both the pre-independence and post-independence phases that marked him as Saint Lucia’s first dominant Black political architect. Born into poverty in 1925, Compton rose through the legal and political ranks during colonial rule. His efforts ensured constitutional advancements for Saint Lucians in the Caribbean and abroad. Though overlooked internationally, Compton’s June 4 electoral resilience symbolized the broader rise of Black political leadership in post-colonial Caribbean states. His legacy laid the groundwork for Saint Lucia’s political and economic development.