The U.S. Congress passed the Civil Rights Bill of 1866, overriding President Andrew Johnson’s veto. This landmark legislation granted citizenship to African Americans and affirmed that all persons born in the United States (except Native Americans) were citizens, entitled to equal protection under the law. The bill declared that Black citizens had “the same right, in every State and Territory… as is enjoyed by white citizens,” laying the foundation for the 14th Amendment.

Josephine Baker, the legendary African American performer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist, died in Paris at the age of 68. Renowned for her daring performances in 1920s France, she broke racial barriers and used her fame to fight injustice. Baker refused to perform for segregated audiences in the U.S. and spoke alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 1963 March on Washington. She remains a global symbol of artistic brilliance and human rights advocacy.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was laid to rest following funeral services at Ebenezer Baptist Church and a public memorial at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Over 300,000 people, including civil rights activists, national dignitaries, and everyday citizens, marched solemnly behind King’s casket. In a symbolic tribute to his humility and legacy, the casket was carried on a simple wooden farm wagon pulled by two Georgia mules through the streets of Atlanta. The procession reflected both reverence and resolve, marking a pivotal moment in the struggle for justice and equality.

Juanita Hall made history as the first African American to win a Tony Award, receiving the honor for her portrayal of Bloody Mary in the Broadway musical South Pacific. Her powerful performance challenged racial barriers in American theater and paved the way for future generations of Black performers on stage.

After being denied the opportunity to perform at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution due to her race, world-renowned contralto Marian Anderson gave a groundbreaking open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In front of 65,000 attendees and a national radio audience, Anderson’s performance became a defining moment in civil rights history, symbolizing dignity in the face of discrimination and marking a powerful stand against racial segregation in the arts.

Dr. Nathan Hare was born in Slick, Oklahoma. A trailblazing educator, sociologist, and publisher, Hare became known as the “father of Black Studies” after founding the first Black Studies program in the United States at San Francisco State University in 1968. He later co-founded The Black Scholar, one of the most influential journals of African American thought. His work has profoundly shaped the academic and cultural discourse on race, power, and liberation.

Paule Marshall, acclaimed African American novelist and essayist, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her work, including the celebrated novel Brown Girl, Brownstones (1959), explored themes of identity, diaspora, and the Black female experience. Marshall’s lyrical prose and Caribbean-American heritage helped shape postwar Black literature and inspired generations of writers.

Paul Bustill Robeson was born in Princeton, New Jersey. A brilliant scholar and All-American football player at Rutgers University, Robeson graduated Phi Beta Kappa and went on to achieve international fame as a stage and screen actor, as well as a powerful bass-baritone singer. Beyond his immense talent, Robeson was also a fearless political activist who spoke out against racism, colonialism, and inequality around the world. His outspoken support for civil rights and socialism made him a controversial figure during the Red Scare, leading to government surveillance and blacklisting. Despite efforts to silence him, Robeson remained a symbol of courage, intellect, and artistic excellence.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Florence Beatrice Price became the first African American woman to have a symphony performed by a major U.S. orchestra. A musical prodigy, she gave her first piano recital at age four and published her first composition by eleven. With roots in classical training and deep inspiration from African American spirituals and folk traditions, Price’s work broke racial and gender barriers in the world of classical music. Her 1933 symphony debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra marked a historic moment in American music history.

On this day, the American Anti-Slavery Society officially disbanded in Boston, declaring its mission complete following the passage of the 15th Amendment, which granted Black men the right to vote. Founded in 1833 by William Lloyd Garrison and other leading abolitionists, the Society had played a central role in the fight to end slavery in the United States. Its dissolution marked the end of an era—and the beginning of a new phase in the struggle for racial justice and equality.

Nine Black regiments from General John Hawkins’s division played a decisive role in breaching Confederate defenses at Fort Blakely, Alabama. Their bravery contributed directly to the capture of the fort, which led to the fall of Mobile—one of the last major Confederate strongholds. The 68th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.) suffered the highest number of casualties in the engagement, highlighting the tremendous sacrifice made by Black soldiers in the final days of the Civil War.