Colin Luther Powell is sworn in by President George W. Bush as Secretary of State. He becomes the first Black person in U.S. history to hold this high-ranking diplomatic position, marking a significant milestone in American political and military history.

Cheryl Mills, serving as White House Deputy Counsel, makes history as the first Black person to argue a case before a U.S. Senate impeachment hearing during the trial of President William Clinton. Her powerful defense highlighted constitutional principles and drew widespread praise for her clarity and poise.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., with support from Robert Samuel Taylor of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. The five founding members—Arizona Cleaver Stemmons, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Pearl Anna Neal, Fannie Pettie Watts, and Viola Tyler Goings—established the organization with a mission centered on scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood.

On this day in 1997, former Major League Baseball outfielder Curt Flood passed away at the age of 59. Flood famously challenged baseball’s reserve clause in 1969, a bold move that laid the foundation for free agency and the multimillion-dollar contracts players earn today. His fight for labor rights transformed professional sports, despite costing him his own career.

Celebrated poet and author Maya Angelou became the second poet in U.S. history to recite at a presidential inauguration. She delivered her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s swearing-in ceremony, marking a powerful moment of cultural and historical significance. Her performance highlighted themes of hope, diversity, and renewal.

On this day, the United States observed the first national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The holiday, signed into law in 1983, marked a significant milestone in recognizing the legacy of the civil rights leader, who advocated for nonviolence, racial equality, and justice.

Josh Gibson, one of the greatest power hitters in baseball history and a Negro League superstar, died on this day in 1947. Known as the “Black Babe Ruth,” Gibson was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, becoming one of the first Negro League players to receive the honor.

Barbara Jordan, a pioneering American politician, was born in Houston, Texas. She became the first African American woman elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction and later the first Southern African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Known for her eloquence and dedication to justice, Jordan was a powerful voice during the Watergate hearings and a tireless advocate for civil rights.

On this day, Congressman George H. White, a Republican from North Carolina and the last African American in Congress at the time, introduced a bill to make lynching a federal crime. Despite the urgency—105 African Americans were lynched in the United States that year—the bill died in committee. White’s efforts marked an early attempt to confront racial violence through federal legislation.

Eva Jessye was born in Coffeyville, Kansas. A pioneering African American choral director, she gained fame for her role as the choral director for the original 1935 Broadway production of Porgy and Bess, becoming a key figure in American musical theater history.

Hiram R. Revels was elected to the United States Senate by the Mississippi state legislature, becoming the first Black person to serve in the U.S. Senate. He was chosen to fill the seat formerly held by Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy. Revels served until March 3, 1871.

The Florida Constitutional Convention met in Tallahassee, including eighteen Black delegates and twenty-seven white delegates. This was a pivotal moment during Reconstruction, reflecting the progress made in African American political participation following the Civil War. The convention was part of the process required for Florida’s readmission to the Union and aimed to draft a new state constitution aligned with federal requirements for civil rights.

William R. Pettiford was born on this day in 1847. A pioneering African American banker, Pettiford founded the Alabama Penny Savings Bank in 1890, one of the first Black-owned banks in the United States. The institution provided crucial financial services to the Black community during the Jim Crow era, empowering economic development and financial independence.

The Pioneer African Baptist Church, later known as the First African Baptist Church, was organized in Savannah, Georgia, with Andrew Bryan as its pastor. This marked one of the earliest formal Black congregations in the United States, establishing a cornerstone for Black religious life and community leadership.

On this day, Congressman George H. White of North Carolina introduced a bill to make lynching a federal crime. As the only Black member of Congress at the time, White took a courageous stand against racial violence. The bill died in committee, reflecting the deep resistance to federal anti-lynching legislation. Reports indicate that in 1900 alone, 105 African Americans were lynched in the United States.