Tennis Great Venus Williams born.

Tuskegee Boycott began.  African American’s boycotted city stores in protest against act of state legislature that deprived them of municipal votes by placing their homes outside of the city limits.

On this date in 1775, Peter Salem a free slave and a private in Captain Simon Edgel’s company at the battle of Bunker Hill, was the first military hero of the War of Independence against British rule. On June 17, 1775, at a crucial moment in the battle, when British major John Pitcairn, had rallied the disorganized British troops.

On this date in 1972, Frank Wills, Washington security guard, foiled break-in at offices of Democratic National Committee in first event of the Watergate conspiracy.

On this date in 1948, Actress Phylicia Rashad was born in Houston, Texas.

ON this date in 1937, Journalist Robert Clyve Maynard, owner, editor and publisher of “The Oakland Tribune,” was born in the borough of Brooklyn, NY.

On this date in 1928, Blues singer, “the Godfather of Soul,” James Brown was born in Pulaski, Tennessee.

On this date in 1897, William Frank Powell, New Jersey educator, named minister to Haiti.

ON this date in 1871, Author, lyricist, poet and educator James Weldon Johnson, also the first Black executive of the NAACP, is born in Jacksonville, Florida.

On this date in 1862, Congress authorized President Lincoln to accept blacks in Union Army.

On June 17, 1775, during the Battle of Bunker Hill in the American Revolutionary War, Black soldiers such as Peter Salem and Salem Poor fought valiantly against British forces. Salem Poor’s heroism earned him commendation from 14 officers, a rare recognition for any soldier, let alone a Black man in colonial America. These men represented the significant yet often overlooked contributions of African Americans in the fight for American independence. Despite fighting for liberty, many Black soldiers remained enslaved or faced discrimination after the war. Their involvement highlights both the contradictions and the complexities of race and freedom in the founding of the United States.

On June 17, 1940, Dr. Charles R. Drew, an African American physician and blood transfusion pioneer, was appointed the first director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank. Drew’s groundbreaking work in blood preservation techniques laid the foundation for large-scale blood banking, which saved countless lives during World War II. Despite his leadership, the Red Cross initially upheld policies that segregated blood by race—a practice Drew strongly opposed and later resigned over. His appointment on this date represented a historic achievement for a Black physician in a segregated medical establishment. Drew would go on to inspire generations of Black medical professionals and remains a towering figure in global medical history.

On June 17, 1991, Nelson Mandela arrived in the United States as a free man for the first time, launching a triumphant tour that included speeches to Congress, meetings with civil rights leaders, and massive public rallies. Freshly released from 27 years in prison, Mandela was greeted as a global icon of justice. His visit marked a pivotal moment in global Black solidarity, with African Americans organizing major welcomes in New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. The U.S. trip amplified pressure on the apartheid regime and reinforced transnational Black unity. June 17 was the kickoff of a tour that energized global opposition to apartheid and elevated Mandela’s stature on the world stage.

On June 17, 1982, Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man, was brutally beaten in Detroit by two white autoworkers who mistook him for Japanese and blamed him for the decline of the U.S. auto industry. Chin would die days later. While this incident directly involved anti-Asian racism, it exposed broader labor tensions affecting Black and Asian communities. Detroit’s declining auto sector had long been a battleground where Black workers had struggled for fair employment. The incident prompted unprecedented solidarity between Black and Asian American activists. June 17 marks a day when cross-racial labor dynamics, scapegoating, and calls for justice intersected in powerful ways—underscoring the importance of coalition-building in the fight against structural racism.

On June 17, 1822, the planned slave rebellion organized by Denmark Vesey was discovered in Charleston, South Carolina. Vesey, a literate free Black man and former slave, had meticulously organized a widespread insurrection involving hundreds of enslaved Africans. The plot aimed to seize weapons, liberate slaves, and escape to Haiti. However, two informants disclosed the plan, leading to Vesey’s arrest and the apprehension of over 130 suspects. Although the uprising was thwarted, Vesey’s bold vision became a symbol of resistance and galvanized future abolitionist movements. His actions highlighted the deep unrest among the enslaved population and the lengths to which they would go to claim their freedom.

On June 17, 1980, Zimbabwe officially joined the United Nations, marking a new chapter in African diplomacy. Following a protracted liberation struggle against white minority rule in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe attained independence under Prime Minister Robert Mugabe in April 1980. Its admittance to the UN represented global recognition of the new sovereign state. Zimbabwe’s membership was part of a broader trend during the decolonization era, when newly independent African nations joined the UN to advocate for development aid, anti-apartheid efforts, and equitable trade. This moment symbolized Zimbabwe’s formal entry into the international community and the culmination of a generations-long struggle for Black self-governance.

On June 17, 1960, Senegal and Mali declared the formation of the Mali Federation, a political union aimed at creating a stronger front against neocolonial influence in West Africa. Although short-lived—it dissolved just months later—the Federation symbolized Pan-African ambitions of leaders like Léopold Sédar Senghor (Senegal) and Modibo Keïta (Mali). The Federation sought economic integration, political unity, and shared resources, drawing on the legacy of ancient empires like Mali. Its failure underscored the challenges of unifying newly independent states with divergent political systems. Nevertheless, the event remains a significant attempt at regional cooperation rooted in Black sovereignty.

On June 17, 1991, South Africa repealed the Population Registration Act, a core pillar of the apartheid system. The act had classified citizens by race—Black, white, coloured, and Indian—governing all aspects of life, from where people could live to whom they could marry. Its repeal marked a major step toward dismantling institutional racism and transitioning to democracy. Though symbolic, the move also had practical implications, ending the state\’s ability to codify racial discrimination. It set the stage for the 1994 democratic elections and the emergence of the new South Africa. June 17 stands as a turning point in Black South Africans’ struggle for dignity and equality.

On June 17, 1950, the park now known as James Weldon Johnson Park in Jacksonville, Florida, was rededicated in honor of the civil rights leader, writer, and composer James Weldon Johnson. A Jacksonville native, Johnson co-wrote \”Lift Every Voice and Sing,\” known as the Black national anthem, and was a key figure in the NAACP. The park had once been a site of racial exclusion, but its renaming marked an important step in local efforts to recognize Black contributions to American life and culture.