Jamaican-born activist Marcus Garvey arrived in the United States on March 23, 1916, laying the groundwork for one of the most influential Black nationalist movements in history. He would go on to establish the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), advocating for Black pride, economic independence, and a return to Africa movement. His arrival marked the beginning of a transformative chapter in global Pan-Africanism and Black empowerment.

Patricia Roberts Harris, the first African American woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet, died in Washington, D.C. A groundbreaking diplomat and public servant, Harris was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg in 1965 and later served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare during the Carter Administration. Her legacy paved the way for future generations of Black women in public leadership.

On this day, Rev. Walter Fauntroy, a former aide to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., became the first non-voting congressional delegate from the District of Columbia since the Reconstruction era. His appointment marked a pivotal moment in the fight for D.C. residents’ political representation and civil rights, bringing national attention to issues of enfranchisement in the nation’s capital.

Moses Malone, one of the most dominant centers in professional basketball history, was born in Petersburg, Virginia. Nicknamed “The Mailman” for his relentless work ethic and dependable performance, Malone became the first player to go directly from high school to professional basketball. Over his storied career, he was a 3-time NBA MVP, 12-time All-Star, and helped lead the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA championship in 1983.

Walter Rodney, a Guyanese historian, political activist, and author of the seminal work How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, was born on this day. A fierce critic of colonialism and global capitalism, Rodney used both scholarship and grassroots organizing to empower marginalized communities in the Caribbean and Africa. His work remains a cornerstone in Pan-African and anti-imperialist thought.