On June 13, 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court, making him the first African American to be appointed to the highest court in the nation. Prior to this, Marshall was best known for his victory in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the landmark case that led to the desegregation of public schools. As a former NAACP lawyer and Solicitor General, Marshall had argued more cases before the Supreme Court than any lawyer in history at that time. His nomination was both historic and controversial, facing opposition from Southern senators during confirmation hearings. Despite this, Marshall was confirmed later that year. His presence on the Court marked a turning point in American jurisprudence and civil rights, where he served for 24 years, consistently advocating for individual rights, due process, and social justice. Marshall\’s nomination on this day symbolized a stride toward equality in American democracy.

On thus day in 1990, Bernadette Locke becomes the first female on-court coach when she is named assistant coach of the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team.

On this day in 1937, Eleanor Holmes (later Eleanor Norton) is born in Washington, DC. A graduate of the Yale University School of Law, Norton will become chairperson of the New York City Commission on Human Rights, and a Georgetown University law professor before being elected a non-voting delegate to Congress.

On this day in 1910, William D. Crum (1859-1912), a South Carolina physician, appointed minister to Liberia.

On this day in 1868, Ex-slave Oscar J. Dunn becomes lieutenant governor of Louisiana. It is the highest executive office held by an African American to date.

Though Medgar Evers was assassinated on June 12, 1963, his funeral was held on June 13 and became a major civil rights moment. Evers was a Mississippi NAACP field secretary and a fierce advocate for desegregation and voting rights. His assassination stunned the country and became one of the galvanizing tragedies of the civil rights era. Over 5,000 mourners attended his funeral in Jackson, Mississippi, and the event drew national press coverage. The U.S. Navy veteran was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His funeral not only honored his legacy but became a rallying point that added urgency to the Civil Rights Act efforts. The events of June 13 spotlighted the life, sacrifice, and ongoing struggle for civil rights in the United States.

On June 13, 1866, the U.S. House of Representatives reaffirmed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 following President Andrew Johnson’s continued resistance. Originally passed over Johnson’s veto in April, the act declared all persons born in the U.S. (excluding Native Americans) as citizens entitled to equal protection under the law. June 13 is notable because Congress pushed forward with the 14th Amendment on this same date, embedding those rights into the Constitution. This was a turning point in Reconstruction policy, establishing the federal government as the guarantor of civil rights for newly freed African Americans. The reaffirmation was a rejection of presidential obstruction and an assertion of Congressional authority to protect Black citizenship in the post–Civil War era.

On June 13, 1920, James Weldon Johnson was appointed as the first African American Executive Secretary of the NAACP. Already known for his work as a writer, poet, and civil rights activist, Johnson brought strategic vision and intellectual leadership to the organization. During his tenure, he expanded membership, fought lynching through national legislation campaigns, and elevated the NAACP\’s legal and cultural influence. Johnson helped shift the organization’s focus to include both legal defense and cultural empowerment, helping lay the groundwork for the Harlem Renaissance. His appointment marked a significant moment in Black leadership within the oldest civil rights organization in the United States.

On June 13, 1971, acclaimed sculptor Geraldine McCullough was awarded the Widener Gold Medal by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The honor was given for her sculpture “Phoenix,” a powerful piece symbolizing rebirth and resilience. McCullough’s work often fused African themes with modernist form and metalworking techniques. Her Widener win was a rare and historic achievement for an African American woman in the visual arts world. The award elevated her profile nationally and internationally and opened doors for other Black women artists. June 13 marks an important cultural milestone in the recognition of African American contributions to fine art.

On June 13, 1995, Assata Shakur became the first woman placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list. A former member of the Black Liberation Army, Shakur had escaped prison in 1979 and was granted political asylum in Cuba. The FBI alleged her involvement in the 1973 killing of a New Jersey state trooper, though many activists consider her a political prisoner targeted for her revolutionary beliefs. Her addition to the Most Wanted list sparked global attention and debate over the definition of terrorism, the legitimacy of state prosecution, and the boundaries of political resistance. June 13 became a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between Black liberation movements and state power.