On February 10, 1992, Alex Haley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family, passed away at the age of 70. Haley’s work played a major role in bringing African American genealogy and history into the national spotlight, inspiring millions to explore their heritage.

On February 10, 1967, the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect. It clarified presidential succession and procedures for dealing with presidential disability. This amendment has had significant implications for American governance and leadership stability, including during times involving leaders of diverse backgrounds.

On February 10, 1966, Andrew Brimmer was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System by President Lyndon B. Johnson, becoming the first African American to serve in that role. His appointment marked a major milestone in the inclusion of African Americans in national economic policymaking.

On February 10, 1964, after 12 days of debate and voting on 125 amendments, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by a vote of 290–130. The landmark legislation prohibited discrimination by state and local governments or public facilities based on race or ethnic origin. It also empowered the federal government to enforce desegregation and equal access to public accommodations.

On February 10, 1946, Jackie Robinson, who would soon break Major League Baseball’s color barrier, married Rachel Isum in Los Angeles. Their partnership would become a pillar of strength throughout Robinson’s historic career and civil rights activism.

Roberta Flack, the acclaimed American singer, was born on February 10, 1940, in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Known for her smooth vocals and emotive ballads, she rose to fame with hits like The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Killing Me Softly with His Song, becoming a trailblazer in soul and R&B music.

On February 10, 1927, world-renowned opera singer Leontyne Price was born in Laurel, Mississippi. She began singing in church choirs as a child and later studied music at Central State College in Wilberforce, Ohio. Price rose to international fame as one of the first African American sopranos to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, breaking racial barriers and earning acclaim for her powerful voice and stage presence.

On February 10, 1989, Ron Brown was elected Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, becoming the first African American to lead a major U.S. political party. His election represented a historic moment in American politics and leadership diversity.

Grace Towns Hamilton, a pioneering civil rights activist and politician, was born on February 10, 1907, in Atlanta, Georgia. She became the first African American woman elected to the Georgia General Assembly and was a tireless advocate for voting rights, fair housing, and social justice throughout her career.

On this day, conservative Republicans, supported by military forces, took control of the Florida Constitutional Convention. They drafted a new constitution that centralized authority in the hands of the governor and strategically reduced the political influence of newly enfranchised Black voters during Reconstruction. This marked a pivotal moment in Florida’s post-Civil War political restructuring.

Joseph Charles Price, a pioneering African American educator and leader, was born on this day in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He became the founding president of Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, and was a powerful advocate for African American education and civil rights during the Reconstruction era. His leadership and eloquence earned him national and international respect, including praise from Frederick Douglass.

On this day, Georgia’s House of Assembly appointed William Few, Abraham Baldwin, William Pierce, George Walton, William Houston, and Nathaniel Pendleton as the state’s commissioners to attend the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention. Among them, William Few and Abraham Baldwin—both of whom would sign the U.S. Constitution—were notable figures in early American history. Baldwin, in particular, played a key role in shaping the structure of the U.S. Congress and later became the first president of the University of Georgia.