Joseph R. Winters, an African American inventor, was granted U.S. Patent number 203,517  for a fire escape ladder on May 7, 1878. His innovation used a metal frame and a system that allowed quick deployment from building windows, vastly improving fire rescue operations. Winters had previously invented a wagon-mounted fire escape ladder but improved on it with this portable design. His work saved countless lives and paved the way for modern emergency equipment. A tireless advocate for safer urban living, Winters’ contributions often go overlooked despite their wide-reaching impact. His designs also showed the world the critical role of African American inventors in shaping public safety measures during the 19th century.

On May 7, 1976, William H. Hastie was inaugurated as the first Black governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, marking a pivotal moment in U.S. territorial leadership. Though he had previously served as governor by presidential appointment in the 1940s, this ceremony commemorated his official election through democratic processes. A former federal judge and civil rights trailblazer, Hastie had long advocated for self-governance and representation of the Virgin Islands. His legacy includes pushing for political autonomy and serving as a role model for future generations of Black public servants in the Caribbean and beyond.

On May 7, 1885, Dr. John E. W. Thompson—an African American graduate of Yale University Medical School—was appointed U.S. Minister Resident and Consul General to Haiti. A trailblazer in both medicine and diplomacy, Thompson’s appointment marked one of the earliest high-ranking diplomatic roles for a Black American. He was tasked with strengthening U.S.-Haiti relations during a time when the Caribbean nation held deep symbolic and strategic importance in the Americas. His dual identity as a physician and statesman exemplified the rising influence of educated Black professionals during the post-Reconstruction era.

On May 7, 1867, African American demonstrators in New Orleans staged a powerful “ride-in” protest to challenge segregation on the city’s streetcar system. Just two years after the end of the Civil War, Black citizens demanded equal access to public transportation by boarding cars designated for white passengers. The peaceful yet defiant act ignited similar protests across the South, including in Mobile, Alabama, and other Reconstruction-era cities. These early civil disobedience campaigns laid critical groundwork for the later, more widely known bus boycotts of the 20th century. The riders’ courage in confronting racial injustice helped spark broader conversations about civil rights in postwar America.

On May 7, 1800, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable—recognized as the “Father of Chicago”—sold all his property along the Chicago River for $1,200 and left the region. A Black pioneer of Haitian descent, DuSable had established a thriving trading post, farm, and homestead in what would become one of America’s largest cities. His departure marked the end of his foundational role in early Chicago. Despite his lasting legacy, DuSable died in 1818 nearly penniless in St. Charles, Missouri. Today, his contribution is honored with monuments, schools, and museums in Chicago, recognizing him as one of the city’s earliest non-Indigenous settlers and entrepreneurs.

On May 7, 1955, Reverend George W. Lee, one of the first Black people registered to vote in Humphreys County, Mississippi since Reconstruction, was murdered for his civil rights activism. A minister and entrepreneur, Lee worked tirelessly to register Black voters in the segregated South, where Jim Crow laws reigned. Despite threats to his life, he refused protection that would have compromised his cause. His brutal assassination — shot while driving his car — became an early martyrdom of the modern Civil Rights Movement. Lee’s death, though not receiving as much national attention as later incidents, fueled outrage and inspired more activists to rise against systemic racism and voter suppression.

William J. Seymour, born May 7, 1870, became a pivotal figure in the spread of Pentecostalism. As the son of formerly enslaved parents in Louisiana, Seymour faced deep racial discrimination but found solace and leadership in Christianity. In 1906, his preaching ignited the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, a multiracial, spirit-filled movement that profoundly shaped global Christianity. Seymour’s insistence on racial integration within worship services was revolutionary for its time. His leadership style was humble, Spirit-driven, and egalitarian, marking him as a major architect of modern Pentecostalism, now one of the world’s fastest-growing religious movements.

Glenda Hatchett, born May 7, 1952, in Atlanta, Georgia, would become a trailblazing African American jurist and television personality. After graduating from Emory University School of Law, she served as the Chief Presiding Judge of the Fulton County Juvenile Court — Georgia’s largest juvenile court system. Hatchett became nationally known through her TV show Judge Hatchett, which blended real-life cases with life lessons for families. Beyond her courtroom work, Hatchett has advocated for children’s rights, domestic violence prevention, and educational reform, inspiring generations of young Black women to pursue law and leadership roles.

On May 7, 1877, federal troops withdrew from South Carolina, signaling the end of Reconstruction and the dismantling of Black political power in the state. Black legislators had made historic gains following the Civil War, with South Carolina’s legislature becoming majority-Black for a time. However, with the federal government’s retreat, white supremacist groups quickly reinstated discriminatory laws and violence to suppress African American rights. This tragic shift inaugurated the long Jim Crow era, reversing much of the progress made during Reconstruction and perpetuating systemic inequality for nearly a century afterward.

On May 7, 1963, thousands of Black schoolchildren in Birmingham, Alabama, continued to march for civil rights, following the first mass arrests the day before. The Children’s Crusade — orchestrated by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and leaders like James Bevel — saw young activists filling the jails and overwhelming the city’s segregationist defenses. Their courage in facing fire hoses, police dogs, and brutal arrests captured the nation’s attention and created momentum that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The events of May 7, specifically, showed the power of youth in forcing moral reckonings around civil rights.

On May 7, 1885, Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first African American professionally trained nurse in the U.S., helped establish what would become the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). Though formally founded later, Mahoney’s early organizing efforts on this date are celebrated for laying the groundwork for Black nursing advocacy. NACGN provided support and opportunities for Black nurses shut out of white institutions. Mahoney’s leadership advanced racial integration in healthcare, professional recognition, and better treatment of Black nurses nationwide, influencing future nursing and civil rights achievements.

On May 7, 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Though limited compared to later legislation, it was a key step in protecting voting rights for African Americans. It penalized anyone who obstructed voter registration and allowed federal inspection of local voter registration polls. It also established penalties for interfering with court-ordered school desegregation. Though Southern resistance remained fierce, the act was a signal that federal authorities were increasingly being pushed to intervene on civil rights issues, setting the stage for broader reforms during the 1960s.

Max Robinson, one of the first African American news anchors of a major television network (ABC World News Tonight), was posthumously honored on May 7, 1989. Robinson shattered barriers in journalism during a time when few Black faces appeared on national broadcasts. Despite facing significant racial discrimination throughout his career, Robinson’s achievements inspired a generation of Black journalists to aspire to national platforms. His honest, uncompromising reporting style made him a respected — if sometimes controversial — figure in media history, remembered for advancing representation in newsrooms across America.

On May 7, 2020, after months of public outcry, Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael were finally charged for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old unarmed Black man jogging near Brunswick, Georgia. Cell phone footage showing Arbery being chased and shot had gone viral, sparking national outrage over racial profiling and vigilante violence. The delayed arrest fueled protests and renewed calls for justice system reform. Arbery’s death, and the events surrounding it, became a catalyst for the summer 2020 racial justice protests, linking his name to those of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in a broader fight for equality.

Joseph Jenkins Roberts, a free Black man from Virginia, set sail for Liberia on May 7, 1840. He would become Liberia’s first Black governor and later its first president when the country declared independence. Roberts symbolized the complicated legacy of the American Colonization Society’s efforts to “return” free Blacks to Africa. Though Liberia was founded with good intentions by some, it also reflected America’s struggles with racism and inequality. Roberts worked to build trade networks, expand Liberia’s territory, and defend the new nation’s sovereignty. His leadership paved the way for Liberia’s stability during its early years.

On May 7, 1867, Sarah Breedlove — later known as Madam C.J. Walker — was born in Delta, Louisiana. She would rise from poverty to become one of the world’s first female self-made millionaires. Walker revolutionized Black hair care, creating products specifically for African American women. Beyond business, she was an outspoken activist for civil rights and philanthropy. Her success challenged stereotypes and opened doors for Black entrepreneurs globally, inspiring future generations to build wealth and uplift their communities through business and social activism.

On May 7, 1919, reports of the Amritsar Massacre (April 13) reached wider Black audiences in the Caribbean and Africa. British colonial forces killed hundreds of unarmed Indian civilians, sparking outrage. Pan-African leaders like Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. Du Bois used the massacre to highlight colonial brutality across the African diaspora. It galvanized early anti-colonial movements, linking struggles in Africa, India, and the Caribbean. The event emphasized the shared fight against imperialism and racial oppression, fueling the broader push toward independence movements across the colonized world.

May 7, 1945, marked the end of World War II in Europe. Black soldiers from the U.S., Britain, France, and African colonies celebrated VE Day with the rest of the world. Despite facing segregation and discrimination within the armed forces, Black soldiers played crucial roles in securing Allied victory. Their contributions during the war helped spark demands for civil rights and decolonization after 1945. Many Black veterans, emboldened by their service, returned home determined to fight for equality and justice.

On May 7, 1954, Kwame Nkrumah led the Convention People’s Party (CPP) to a major victory in Gold Coast (Ghana) elections. The win showed overwhelming popular support for independence from British colonial rule. Nkrumah’s leadership combined grassroots mobilization, Pan-African vision, and diplomatic skill. Within three years, Ghana would become the first African nation to gain independence, inspiring liberation movements across the continent. Nkrumah’s success proved that colonial rule was not inevitable — it could be dismantled through organized mass movements and political strategy.

On May 7, 1963, African leaders were deep in negotiations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to form the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The OAU, officially established later that month, aimed to promote solidarity among African states, coordinate anti-colonial struggles, and safeguard sovereignty. May 7 discussions centered on balancing the visions of unity proposed by leaders like Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana) and more cautious approaches from others. The meeting marked a pivotal moment in Black international diplomacy, laying foundations for what is today the African Union (AU).

On May 7, 1986, Liberian President Samuel Doe declared emergency measures to suppress rising opposition. His authoritarian leadership, initially welcomed as Liberia’s first indigenous (non-Americo-Liberian) president, had descended into corruption and ethnic favoritism. Doe’s declaration signaled Liberia’s deepening political crisis, which would eventually spiral into civil war. His rule remains a cautionary tale about the complex legacies of postcolonial leadership challenges in Africa and the dangers of foreign meddling, as both Cold War powers played a role in Doe’s rise and fall.

On May 7, 1994, Nelson Mandela finalized preparations for his inauguration as South Africa’s first Black president after centuries of colonialism and apartheid. Mandela’s election victory was a global symbol of hope, reconciliation, and the power of resistance. His leadership, honed over decades of imprisonment and activism, sought to unite a bitterly divided nation. His presidency would prioritize truth-telling, healing, and building a multiracial democracy. The transition marked one of the most extraordinary peaceful political revolutions in modern history.

On May 7, 2002, Brazil launched a major government initiative focused on increasing Afro-Brazilian visibility, rights, and representation. Known as the “Promotion of Racial Equality Program,” it aimed to address centuries of systemic racism against Brazil’s largest Black population outside Africa. Programs targeted education, employment, and political participation. Although challenges persist, the 2002 initiative represented a historic recognition of Brazil’s deep African heritage and the urgent need for racial justice in the hemisphere’s most African-descended nation after Nigeria.

On May 7, 2017, following Emmanuel Macron’s election as President of France, conversations about the legacy of Christiane Taubira, France’s first Black female Minister of Justice, dominated political discourse. Though she had stepped down the year prior, Taubira’s influence lingered. She had spearheaded the landmark law recognizing slavery as a crime against humanity and championed marriage equality. Her work symbolized a major shift in French politics, where Afro-descendant leaders began challenging traditional structures of exclusion and pushing for broader social reforms.

On May 7, 1952, Josina Machel, one of Mozambique’s most revered anti-colonial activists, was born. From a young age, she was deeply involved in the struggle against Portuguese colonial rule. At just 18, she joined the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) and quickly rose through the ranks, leading efforts to organize women in the liberation movement. She became a symbol of the vital role that African women played in revolutionary warfare and nation-building. Despite facing constant threats, illness, and hardship, Machel tirelessly worked to set up schools, healthcare centers, and social programs for displaced women and children. Tragically, she died of illness at only 25 years old, but her legacy lived on. Josina Machel is honored every year in Mozambique on April 7 (National Women’s Day), but internationally, her life and contributions are far less recognized.