On this day, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the wrongful conviction of Lenell Geter, a Black aerospace engineer who had been falsely accused and convicted of armed robbery in 1982. Despite a lack of physical evidence and multiple alibi witnesses, Geter was sentenced to life in prison. After serving 16 months and amid national outrage, investigative journalism and public pressure helped reveal the flaws in the case, leading to his release and exoneration. His case became a landmark example of racial bias and injustice in the U.S. criminal justice system.

Coach John Thompson of Georgetown University made history by becoming the first Black head coach to win the NCAA men’s basketball championship. Under his leadership, the Georgetown Hoyas defeated the University of Houston 84–75. Thompson’s victory was a landmark moment in college sports, breaking racial barriers in coaching and inspiring generations of Black athletes and coaches.

Marvin Gaye is born in Washington, D.C. A legendary soul singer and songwriter, he would sign with Motown Records in 1962 and launch a 22-year career filled with timeless music. Known for hits like “Pride and Joy” and unforgettable duets with Mary Wells and Tammi Terrell, Gaye also broke new ground with socially conscious albums like What’s Going On and sensual masterpieces such as Let’s Get It On and Midnight Love. His music would influence generations and shape the sound of modern soul and R&B.

World-renowned African American cowboy Willie “Bill” Pickett died in Ponca City, Oklahoma, from injuries sustained after being kicked in the head by a horse on the Miller Brothers’ 101 Ranch. Pickett was famous for inventing the rodeo technique of “bulldogging” (steer wrestling) and was the first Black cowboy inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. His legacy lives on as a trailblazer in Western and rodeo history.

Charles White was born on April 2, 1918, in Chicago, Illinois. A masterful draftsman and painter, White began his professional career creating murals for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. Deeply influenced by Mexican muralists Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros, White used his art to portray the dignity, struggle, and strength of African Americans. His most notable works include “The Contribution of the Negro to American Democracy”, a mural at Hampton University. He later taught at Otis Art Institute, mentoring artists like Kerry James Marshall. White passed away on October 3, 1979, but his legacy lives on through powerful imagery and social commentary in art.

On this day, Black soldiers of the Union Army’s Twenty-Fifth Corps were among the first to enter the Confederate stronghold of Petersburg, Virginia. Their presence marked a pivotal moment in the final days of the Civil War. Composed entirely of United States Colored Troops (USCT), the Twenty-Fifth Corps played a crucial role in the Union victory and the eventual fall of Richmond, underscoring the courage and contribution of African American soldiers in securing emancipation and Union victory.

John Mercer Langston was elected clerk of Brownhelm Township in Ohio, making him one of the first African Americans ever elected to public office in the United States. Langston, a lawyer and staunch abolitionist, would later become a founding dean of Howard University Law School and serve as U.S. Minister to Haiti. His election marked an early milestone in Black political leadership during a time of widespread disenfranchisement.