On January 22, 1981, Samuel Pierce was appointed Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by President Ronald Reagan. He became the only African American to serve in Reagan’s Cabinet and one of the earliest Black Americans to lead a major federal department. His appointment marked a significant moment in U.S. political history, reflecting gradual progress in the inclusion of African Americans in high-level government positions.

Clarence Willi Norris, the last surviving member of the Scottsboro Boys, died at age 76 while a patient at Bronx Community Hospital. Norris was one of nine African American teenagers falsely accused of raping two white women in Alabama in 1931. The Scottsboro case became a symbol of racial injustice in the American legal system, with numerous trials and retrials between 1931 and 1937. Norris was eventually pardoned in 1976.

On January 22, 1949, Dr. James Gladden became the first African American to be certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. His accomplishment marked a significant breakthrough in a highly specialized and historically exclusive field of medicine, paving the way for greater diversity within surgical specialties.

George Foreman, two-time heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist, was born in Marshall, Texas. Known for his powerful punching and later for his popular grilling products, Foreman became a symbol of resilience, making a historic comeback to win the heavyweight title at age 45.

Singer Sam Cooke, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of soul music, was born in Chicago, Illinois. The son of a minister, Cooke began his musical journey singing gospel with a group called the Singing Children. He later rose to fame with hits such as “You Send Me,” “Only Sixteen,” “Chain Gang,” and “Shake.” Known for his smooth voice and powerful songwriting, Cooke’s legacy influenced countless artists and helped shape the sound of modern R&B and soul music.

William Warfield, acclaimed actor, pianist, and singer, was born in West Helena, Arkansas. His illustrious career in music spanned 54 years, during which he gained fame for his powerful baritone voice and captivating stage presence, especially in works like Porgy and Bess and Show Boat.

The Lodge Bill, also known as the Federal Elections Bill of 1890, which aimed to protect African American voting rights through federal oversight of elections, was abandoned in the U.S. Senate. The bill failed after Southern Democrats conducted a prolonged filibuster, effectively blocking the legislation and curtailing efforts to combat voter suppression during the Jim Crow era.

Barney Lancelot Ford was born into slavery in Virginia but escaped and went on to become a successful entrepreneur, abolitionist, and civil rights activist in Colorado. He made his fortune in real estate, hospitality, and gold mining. Ford used his wealth to support education and the fight for African American suffrage and civil rights. He is remembered as one of the most influential Black pioneers of the American West.

Haitian liberator Toussaint Louverture entered the city of Santiago in the eastern part of Hispaniola (modern-day Dominican Republic) as part of his campaign to unify the island under his leadership and push back French influence. This move marked a significant step in his broader effort to abolish slavery and establish autonomy from colonial powers.