On February 1, 1990, the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp honoring Ida B. Wells, the pioneering Black journalist, suffragist, and anti-lynching crusader. Wells was known for her fearless reporting and activism, which brought national attention to the horrors of lynching in America.

On February 1, 1978, the U.S. Postal Service issued the first stamp in its Black Heritage USA series, honoring Harriet Tubman. A legendary abolitionist and key figure in the Underground Railroad, Tubman became the first African American woman to be featured on a U.S. postage stamp.

On February 1, 1997, BET Holdings, Inc. and Encore Media Corporation launched BET Movie/Starz, the first 24-hour movie channel dedicated to Black cinema. The channel was a milestone in media representation, offering round-the-clock programming focused on African American stories, filmmakers, and actors.

On February 1, 1990, Joseph McNeil, Jibreel Khazan (formerly Ezell Blair Jr.), Franklin McCain, and David Richmond—known as the Greensboro Four—returned to the Woolworth store in Greensboro, North Carolina, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their historic 1960 sit-in. They marked the occasion by having breakfast at the same lunch counter where they had launched one of the most influential acts of civil disobedience in the Civil Rights Movement.

On February 1, 1974, the groundbreaking sitcom Good Times premiered on CBS. It was one of the first television shows to depict a Black family living in a public housing project, addressing issues such as poverty, racism, and social justice with humor and heart. The show became a cultural touchstone and helped launch the career of Jimmie Walker and Esther Rolle.

On February 1, 1967, renowned poet, playwright, and social activist Langston Hughes passed away. A central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes gave voice to the experiences of Black Americans through his powerful and accessible works, influencing generations of writers and artists.

On February 1, 1965, a peaceful voting rights demonstration in Selma, Alabama, ended with the mass arrest of approximately 700 protesters. The protest was part of a larger campaign to challenge racial discrimination in voter registration, helping to set the stage for the Selma to Montgomery marches and the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

On February 1, 1965, acclaimed actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee participated in a major Shakespeare Festival production. Her appearance marked a significant moment in classical theater, highlighting the contributions of African American performers to traditionally Eurocentric stage roles, and further solidified her reputation as a trailblazer in the performing arts.

On February 1, 1960, four Black students from North Carolina A&T College—Joseph McNeil, Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair Jr.), Franklin McCain, and David Richmond—began a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their peaceful protest ignited a wave of similar demonstrations, and by February 10, the sit-in movement had spread to 15 Southern cities across five states.

Rick James, influential funk and R&B singer, songwriter, and producer, was born on February 1, 1952, in Buffalo, New York. Known for his flamboyant style and hit songs like Super Freak and Give It to Me Baby, James played a major role in shaping the sound of 1980s funk music.

Garrett Morris, trailblazing African American actor and comedian, was born on February 1, 1937, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He became one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live in 1975, breaking ground for Black comedians on mainstream television and paving the way for greater diversity in comedy.

On February 1, 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson launched the first Negro History Week, aimed at highlighting the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history. Celebrated during the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, the observance laid the foundation for what would become Black History Month in 1976.

Langston Hughes, one of the most influential figures of the Harlem Renaissance, was born on February 1, 1902. Hughes became known for his insightful, vivid poetry that captured the Black experience in America. His work was central to the early stages of the Black Arts Movement, and his legacy endures through his 15 poetry collections and countless other works, continuing to inspire generations even after his death in 1967.

On February 1, 1887, J. Robinson was granted U.S. Patent No. 356,852 for an innovative design of a dinner pail. This practical invention contributed to the daily lives of workers during the industrial era by improving how meals were stored and transported. Robinson is recognized among the many African American inventors who made significant yet often overlooked contributions to everyday life.

On February 1, 1871, Jefferson Long of Georgia became the first African American to deliver an official speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. In his address, he opposed a bill that would ease restrictions on former Confederates, reflecting his commitment to justice and equality during the Reconstruction era.

On February 1, 1870, Jonathan Jasper Wright was elected to the South Carolina Supreme Court, becoming the first African American to serve on the highest court of a U.S. state. A Reconstruction-era trailblazer, Wright was a strong advocate for civil rights and equal justice under the law.

On February 1, 1865, John Sweat Rock, a distinguished Boston lawyer, became the first African American admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Rock was also the first Black person to address the U.S. House of Representatives. A physician, dentist, abolitionist, and orator, he was a powerful advocate for civil rights and Black self-determination during the Civil War era.

On February 1, 1865, the 38th U.S. Congress passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which formally abolished slavery in the United States. Though passed by Congress on this date, the amendment was not fully ratified by the states until December 6, 1865. This marked a monumental turning point in American history and the legal end of slavery.

Henry McNeal Turner was born on February 1, 1834, in what is now known as Hannah Circuit near Newberry, then part of Abbeville County, South Carolina. As a child, Turner was “bound out” to grueling labor in the cotton fields and blacksmith trade until the age of 12. Despite these hardships, he developed an insatiable thirst for knowledge and went on to become a prominent bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, a Reconstruction-era politician, and a passionate advocate for African American civil rights and emigration to Africa.