Jackie Robinson made his historic debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era. Facing immense racism and pressure, Robinson’s courage and performance on the field challenged segregation in professional sports and paved the way for greater integration in American society.

At the All-African People’s Conference held in Accra, Ghana, April 15 was declared African Freedom Day. This landmark event, attended by representatives from independent African nations and liberation movements, symbolized a unified commitment to ending colonial rule and promoting Pan-African solidarity. Hosted by Ghana’s President Kwame Nkrumah, the conference helped lay the groundwork for future continental unity and resistance against imperialism.

South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, began public hearings to investigate human rights abuses committed during the apartheid era. The TRC was a cornerstone of the nation’s transition to democracy, offering victims a platform to share their stories and granting amnesty to some perpetrators in exchange for full disclosure. It remains a powerful example of restorative justice in post-conflict societies.

Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns won the World Middleweight Title, becoming the first Black boxer in history to claim world titles in five different weight classes. Known for his fierce punching power and technical skill, Hearns’s victory solidified his legacy as one of boxing’s all-time greats. His achievement marked a milestone not just in sports, but in African American athletic excellence and perseverance.

On April 15, 1980, Zimbabwe officially gained its independence from British colonial rule, ending decades of white minority governance under the name Rhodesia. Robert Mugabe became the country’s first Prime Minister after a landslide election victory. This milestone marked a significant victory in the broader African liberation movement, symbolizing the end of colonial domination and the beginning of Black majority rule in Zimbabwe.

Thomas W. Turner, founder of the Federation of Colored Catholics and a charter member of the NAACP, passed away at the age of 101. Turner was a trailblazer in advocating for racial justice within the Catholic Church and broader American society. Through his work, he challenged segregation and fought for the inclusion of African Americans in religious and civic life.

On this day, young Black activists gathered at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and formally established the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Guided by civil rights veteran Ella Baker, the organization became a powerful force in the Civil Rights Movement. SNCC played a key role in sit-ins, Freedom Rides, voter registration drives, and the 1963 March on Washington, amplifying youth-led activism and grassroots organizing throughout the South.

Norma Merrick Sklarek was born on this day in Harlem, New York. She became the first African American woman licensed as an architect in the United States, and later the first Black woman to be elected a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Known for designing major structures like the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, Sklarek broke barriers in a male-dominated field and paved the way for generations of minority architects.

Harold Washington was born on this day in Chicago, Illinois. He would go on to become the city’s first African American mayor, elected in 1983. Washington’s leadership was marked by a commitment to reform, equity, and coalition-building across racial and class lines. His election symbolized a major shift in political power in one of America’s largest cities and remains a pivotal moment in Black political history.

Elizabeth Catlett, a renowned African American lithographer and sculptor, was born in Washington, D.C. She became the first woman to teach sculpture at the School of Fine Arts at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Catlett’s work blended art and activism, often focusing on themes of social justice, African American identity, and the strength of Black women. Her legacy endures as a powerful voice in both American and Latin American art history.

Asa Philip Randolph was born in Crescent City, Florida. He would go on to become one of the most influential labor and civil rights leaders in American history. As the founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters—the first predominantly African American labor union—Randolph fought tirelessly for fair wages and better working conditions for Black workers. He later played a key role in organizing the 1963 March on Washington, cementing his legacy as a bridge between labor rights and civil rights movements.

Booker T. Washington became the first African American to receive an honorary degree from Harvard University. The degree recognized his leadership in education and his work in advancing the status of African Americans through vocational training and economic self-reliance. This milestone elevated Washington’s national prominence and symbolized a rare moment of institutional recognition for Black excellence during the Jim Crow era.

President Abraham Lincoln died after being shot the previous evening by John Wilkes Booth. His death came just days after the end of the Civil War and had profound implications for African Americans. Lincoln’s leadership during the war and his issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation were pivotal in the abolition of slavery. His assassination left Reconstruction efforts in the hands of less sympathetic successors, contributing to a more difficult path for Black civil rights in the post-war era.

On this day, President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to suppress the Southern rebellion at the outset of the Civil War. However, the Lincoln administration explicitly rejected Black volunteers from serving in the Union Army. For nearly two years, Black Americans petitioned, protested, and advocated for the right to fight for their own freedom. As one Black humorist famously remarked, they were struggling for the right “to be kilt.” Their perseverance eventually led to the establishment of Black regiments like the famed 54th Massachusetts.

The California State Legislature adopted the California Fugitive Slave Law, introduced by Senator Henry A. Crabb. This law empowered slaveholders to claim runaway enslaved people within California by obtaining a warrant for their arrest. Despite California’s admission to the Union as a free state, this legislation reflected the ongoing influence of pro-slavery interests and posed a serious threat to Black freedom in the West.