Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most influential leaders in the American civil rights movement, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He is best known for advocating nonviolent resistance to racial segregation and for his pivotal role in the advancement of civil rights in the United States. His leadership during events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington helped bring about significant social change.

Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, the nearby crypt containing the remains of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his boyhood home are dedicated as part of a memorial to be known as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Change. The dedication honors Dr. King’s legacy and commitment to nonviolent social change.

On January 15, 1961, The Supremes officially signed with Motown Records, marking the beginning of one of the most successful careers in music history. Originally known as The Primettes, the group would go on to become Motown’s most commercially successful act and one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. Their success helped bring Black artists into the mainstream music industry and paved the way for future generations.

More than 4,000 delegates representing 100 national organizations gathered in Washington, D.C., for the National Emergency Civil Rights Conference. The meeting aimed to unify efforts against racial discrimination and advocate for stronger civil rights legislation, marking a significant moment in the early civil rights movement.

Yancey Williams, a student at Howard University, filed a lawsuit in federal court demanding that the secretary of war and other U.S. government officials consider his application to become a flying cadet in the Army Air Corps. This legal action challenged the military’s exclusion of African Americans from aviation training and helped pave the way for the eventual formation of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first historically Black Greek-letter sorority, was founded on this date at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by Ethel Hedgeman (Lyle). The organization has since played a pivotal role in promoting academic excellence, leadership, and social justice among African American women.

A division of Black soldiers under the command of Major General Charles Paine participated in the successful Union assault on Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Their involvement helped close the Confederacy’s last major seaport, Wilmington, effectively cutting off crucial supply lines and hastening the end of the Civil War.

On this day, the Bahamas installed its first Black government, a milestone in the nation’s progress toward independence. This political shift reflected a growing movement for self-determination and greater representation of the majority Black population.