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.