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.