On April 13, 1997, Tiger Woods made history by winning the 61st Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. At just 21 years old, he became the youngest Masters champion and the first golfer of African or Asian descent to win the tournament. Woods dominated the field, finishing 12 strokes ahead of runner-up Tom Kite—a record margin that still stands today. His final score of 270 (?18) set a new tournament record at the time. ?Wikipedia

This victory was not only a personal milestone for Woods but also a transformative moment for the sport of golf, breaking racial barriers and inspiring a new generation of players.

On this day, Sidney Poitier became the first African American man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role as Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field (1963). The award was presented at the 36th Academy Awards held on April 13, 1964.

His performance as a traveling handyman who helps a group of East German nuns build a chapel was widely acclaimed, and the win marked a significant milestone in Hollywood history.

Al Green, one of the most iconic voices in rhythm and blues, was born in Forest City, Arkansas. Rising to fame in the 1970s with hits like “Let’s Stay Together” and “Love and Happiness,” Green became known for his smooth vocals, soulful delivery, and deep emotional resonance. His music has influenced generations of artists and earned him a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Nella Larsen, a pioneering writer of the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Known for her novels Quicksand (1928) and Passing (1929), Larsen explored themes of racial identity, gender, and class with psychological depth and nuance. As one of the first Black female novelists to gain national acclaim, her work remains influential in both literary and cultural studies.

On Easter Sunday in Grant Parish, Louisiana, a violent white supremacist mob attacked and killed more than 60 Black men during a dispute over local political control. Known as the Colfax Massacre, it is one of the deadliest incidents of racial and political violence during Reconstruction. Although federal charges were brought, the U.S. Supreme Court later overturned the convictions in United States v. Cruikshank, severely weakening federal protections for African Americans and emboldening white supremacist groups across the South.

On Palm Sunday, April 13, 1669, an African American man named Emmanuel was baptized in a Lutheran congregation in New York, marking the first recorded Lutheran baptism of an African American. This historic event reflects the early presence of African Americans in colonial religious life and offers a glimpse into the complex intersections of faith, identity, and cultural integration in early America.