The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, guaranteeing that the right to vote could not be denied based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” This landmark achievement secured voting rights for Black men in the United States and marked a significant milestone in the struggle for racial equality during the Reconstruction era. Despite its passage, many states would later enact laws to suppress Black voting, leading to decades of continued civil rights advocacy.

The National Urban League presented a groundbreaking one-hour national radio program titled “The Negro and National Defense” on the CBS network. It was one of the first times a major broadcast network devoted airtime to address issues affecting African Americans. The program featured voices of Black leaders and artists, including music by renowned performers, and called attention to racial discrimination in the U.S. defense industry during World War II.