The National Black MBA Assciation is incorporated.

On June 12, 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers was assassinated outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi. Evers, a field secretary for the NAACP, had long been targeted for his work organizing voter registration drives, boycotts, and investigations into racial violence. His killer, white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith, was not convicted until 1994, despite overwhelming evidence. Evers\’ death, just hours after President Kennedy’s civil rights speech, shocked the nation and fueled momentum for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. His murder exposed the deadly consequences of racial hatred in the Deep South and galvanized public support for justice. Evers was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, a recognition of both his service in World War II and his sacrifice in the struggle for civil rights at home.

ON this date in 1904, Negro Baseball League player, William Hendrick “Bill” Foster was born. was an American left-handed pitcher in baseball’s Negro leagues in the 1920s and 1930s, and had a career record of 143-69. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.

ON this day in 1991, Michael Jordan lead Chicago Bulls in win over L.A. Lakers in five games to capture his first NBA Championship.

On June 12, 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Loving v. Virginia, declaring all laws banning interracial marriage unconstitutional. The case was brought by Richard and Mildred Loving, a white man and Black woman who were arrested in Virginia for violating state laws. In a unanimous ruling, the Court stated that marriage is a basic civil right and that denying it based on race violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This ruling invalidated laws in 16 U.S. states and became a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. June 12 is now celebrated annually as Loving Day, commemorating the courage of the Lovings and the ongoing fight for racial equality and marriage rights. The case remains a symbol of personal liberty, racial justice, and the legal dismantling of institutionalized racism in America.

On this day in 1967, a Race riot occurred in Cincinnati, Ohio. Three hundred persons were arrested, and the National Guard was mobilized.

On this day in 1963, Civil rights groups demonstrated at Harlem construction sites to Protest discrimination in building trades unions. Demonstrations and marches were held in metropolitan areas in June, July and August to dramatize discontent over housing, school and job discrimination.

IN this day in 1886, the Georgia State Supreme Court sustained the will of the late David Dickson, thus making Amanda Eubanks, the daughter of a slave and her owner, one of the wealthiest black women in nineteenth-century America. Dickson, a former slaveholder, willed more than half a million dollars to Eubanks.

The first known monument erected by African Americans to honor one of our heroes is dedicated to Richard Allen in Philadelphia’s Fairmont park.

On this day in 1840, the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention convenes in London, England.

On June 12, 1970, University of Lesotho awarded Nelson Mandela an honorary law degree in absentia while he was imprisoned by the apartheid regime in South Africa. Mandela had been sentenced to life in prison in 1964 for sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government. Despite his incarceration, his international stature continued to grow. The degree symbolized global recognition of Mandela’s moral leadership and opposition to racial injustice. It was one of the first in a long line of honors that would be conferred upon him while behind bars. This act of solidarity from Lesotho, a small neighboring country, underscored the rising international condemnation of apartheid and laid groundwork for the global Free Mandela campaign that intensified in the 1980s. Mandela would not be released until 1990, but symbolic gestures like this helped keep his name alive and his mission visible.

On June 12, 1981, the Republic of Djibouti officially adopted a new constitution, just four years after gaining independence from France in 1977. While the constitution initially codified a one-party state under President Hassan Gouled Aptidon, it marked a foundational moment for the East African nation. The constitution recognized Islam as the state religion and established the framework for governance, legal rights, and national identity. Though political pluralism was restricted, the adoption of the constitution was seen as a formal step toward sovereignty and self-determination. Later constitutional reforms in the 1990s opened the path to a multiparty system. June 12 remains a significant milestone in Djibouti’s political evolution and the broader post-colonial African movement for nation-building and constitutional development.

Though not officially canonized until much later, on June 12, 1942, the Church commemorated the mission work of Anne-Marie Javouhey, a French nun whose 19th-century efforts in Senegal profoundly influenced African religious and educational life. She founded schools and hospitals and worked to free enslaved Africans, particularly in Saint-Louis and Gorée. Her work contributed to the rise of educated African elites in French West Africa and laid the groundwork for modern Catholic missions across the continent. While debates continue about the colonial aspects of mission work, Javouhey’s legacy is respected for empowering local communities and advocating for dignity and spiritual inclusion. June 12 marks the day of a major posthumous commemoration of her influence in African Catholic dioceses, particularly in Senegal.

On June 12, 1993, Nigeria held what many observers regard as its fairest and freest election since independence. Businessman Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola, a Yoruba Muslim, won by a wide margin, uniting Nigerians across ethnic and religious lines. However, the military regime led by General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the results, sparking widespread protests and political unrest. Abiola was later arrested after declaring himself president and died in custody in 1998. June 12 became a symbol of democratic aspiration in Nigeria. In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari officially declared June 12 as Democracy Day, replacing May 29. The date honors Abiola’s sacrifice and the enduring call for free, fair governance in Africa’s most populous country.

On June 12, 2009, South African cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, known as Zapiro, published a controversial cartoon depicting Nelson Mandela holding a balance scale between justice and political pressure. Released during debates on the future of the National Prosecuting Authority, the cartoon reignited national conversations around race, accountability, and Mandela\’s enduring legacy. Zapiro’s work has often been provocative, challenging post-apartheid complacency and ANC leadership. The cartoon drew both praise and backlash, reflecting South Africa’s struggle to reconcile liberation ideals with the realities of governance and corruption. June 12 became a focal point in discussions about the role of Black leadership in upholding justice.

On June 12, 1945, the U.S. Marine Corps officially desegregated its training program at Montford Point, North Carolina. Previously segregated, Montford Point had been established in 1942 as the training ground for the first African American Marines. By 1945, over 20,000 Black men had trained there, serving with distinction in World War II. The desegregation effort marked a turning point toward racial integration in the U.S. military, preceding President Truman’s 1948 executive order to end segregation in all armed forces. June 12 symbolizes a key step in the inclusion of Black servicemembers into the full fabric of American military life, honoring the legacy of the Montford Point Marines who paved the way under difficult conditions.

On June 12, 1964, Nelson Mandela and seven other leaders of the African National Congress were sentenced to life imprisonment at the conclusion of the Rivonia Trial in South Africa. Charged with sabotage and plotting to overthrow the apartheid regime, Mandela gave his famous “I am prepared to die” speech during the trial. The harsh sentence sought to silence the anti-apartheid movement, but instead, it elevated Mandela as a global icon of resistance. June 12 became a rallying cry for international solidarity against apartheid. The sentence galvanized the global anti-apartheid movement, leading to boycotts, divestments, and UN sanctions. It marked the beginning of Mandela’s 27-year imprisonment and solidified his role in history.

Frank Wills, the Black security guard who discovered the Watergate break-in that ultimately led to President Nixon’s resignation, was born on June 12, 1929, in Savannah, Georgia. On June 17, 1972, while on duty at the Watergate office complex, Wills noticed suspicious tape on a door latch and called the police, leading to the arrest of five burglars. His alertness triggered the chain of events that exposed one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history. Despite his crucial role, Wills received little recognition or financial reward. He struggled with employment and died in relative obscurity. His story is a stark reminder of how Black individuals often play pivotal roles in history without receiving due credit.

On June 12, 1970, the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) escalated its armed resistance against Portuguese colonial rule. This marked a significant moment in the protracted War of Independence. Backed ideologically by African socialism and supported materially by neighboring Tanzania and Soviet-aligned countries, FRELIMO’s military operations increasingly targeted colonial installations in northern Mozambique. This offensive signaled the intensification of the guerrilla war, which ultimately pressured Portugal to decolonize. The struggle also galvanized regional liberation movements and set the stage for Mozambique’s independence in 1975. FRELIMO’s success demonstrated the power of coordinated anti-colonial resistance, combining ideology, military training, and popular support in a context of Cold War geopolitics. The June 12 escalation was a turning point, transforming the conflict into a full-scale liberation war.

On June 12, 1898, the Philippines declared independence from Spain. Among those who fought in the revolution were Afro-Filipino descendants of African and Latin American maroons brought during the Spanish colonial era. These communities, such as those in Cavite and Manila, contributed soldiers, artisans, and messengers to the revolutionary cause. While often omitted from dominant narratives, Afro-Filipinos played important roles in resisting colonial oppression and later American occupation. The June 12 declaration symbolized not only freedom from Spain but also the assertion of a diverse Filipino identity, enriched by African ancestry through centuries of global colonial exchange. Afro-Filipino heritage remains underexplored but vital to the archipelago’s history of resistance and cultural hybridity.

On June 12, 1984, Desmond Tutu was enthroned as the first Black Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, South Africa. Tutu’s appointment was a powerful spiritual and political moment during the peak of apartheid. A passionate advocate of nonviolence and human rights, Tutu used the pulpit to call for economic sanctions against the apartheid regime and promote interracial reconciliation. His leadership in the church bolstered the global visibility of the anti-apartheid struggle. Tutu’s elevation broke ecclesiastical racial barriers and served as a moral compass during a period of escalating state violence. His role helped bridge religious authority with political activism, ultimately earning him the Nobel Peace Prize later that year.

On June 12, 1956, the United Nations General Assembly held a contentious debate on Algeria’s bid for independence from France. The event highlighted growing international support for decolonization, particularly from African and Asian nations. While France opposed intervention, delegates from Ghana, India, and Egypt advocated for Algerian self-determination. The debate reflected broader Cold War tensions, with Western powers cautious about losing influence in North Africa. For Algerians—many of whom were Black and Arab—the U.N. debate marked international recognition of their violent struggle, which had begun in 1954 and would last until 1962. Though no resolution passed that day, June 12 spotlighted Algeria’s war on the global stage and advanced the diplomatic case for liberation.

On June 12, 2013, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie won the Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize) for her novel Americanah. The book explored race, identity, and migration through the lens of a Nigerian woman navigating life in the United States and Britain. Adichie’s win was a watershed moment for African literature on the global stage, demonstrating the cultural reach of modern African voices. Her eloquent examinations of Black womanhood, diasporic identity, and postcolonial tensions have made her one of the most influential contemporary authors. Americanah has since been translated into over thirty languages and studied worldwide, marking June 12 as a landmark in global Black literary achievement.

On June 12, 1954, a protest led by Black Caribbean workers erupted over discriminatory hiring practices at British Rail in London. Many West Indian migrants, invited to help rebuild post-war Britain, faced racism despite critical labor shortages. Workers were often denied promotions and subjected to wage disparities. The protest forced public dialogue and parliamentary inquiries into racial discrimination in employment. It became one of the early moments of organized Black labor resistance in the UK and laid groundwork for later anti-racist legislation, including the Race Relations Acts. The June 12 protest demonstrated the power of collective organizing by immigrant communities in shaping British civil rights policy.

On June 12, 1928, Haitian intellectuals and political leaders hosted a regional Pan-African Congress in Port-au-Prince. The conference focused on Black unity in the Americas, Haiti’s revolutionary legacy, and resisting U.S. occupation (1915–1934). Delegates included Caribbean thinkers, African-American activists, and African diaspora scholars. Haiti was chosen as symbolic ground for its 1804 independence and global Black pride. The Congress connected anti-colonial and anti-imperial struggles, reinforcing Pan-Africanism’s cultural and political potential. Though less internationally known than the five Pan-African Congresses held in Europe and Africa, the Haitian meeting significantly influenced regional resistance and Black consciousness across the Caribbean.

On June 12, 2005, UNESCO officially inscribed the Timbuktu Manuscripts of Mali into the Memory of the World Register. These ancient documents, dating from the 13th to 17th centuries, include works on astronomy, medicine, mathematics, Islamic law, and African history. Their inclusion recognized West Africa’s pre-colonial intellectual achievements, challenging stereotypes of Africa as ahistorical or primitive. The manuscripts were housed in private family libraries and mosques and were increasingly threatened by war and environmental degradation. The international recognition on June 12 helped rally support for preservation and digital archiving. It affirmed Africa’s legacy as a cradle of knowledge and scholarship.

On June 12, 1928, King Zog I of Albania signed a decree officially outlawing slavery and forced labor—an act with global resonance, especially for Black diaspora scholars studying the lingering impacts of global enslavement systems. While Albania had no large enslaved population at the time, the move was part of broader post-Ottoman legal reforms aligning the nation with international human rights norms. What makes this date significant—but little known—is that Albania’s formal stance against slavery helped pave the way for its support of Pan-Africanist and decolonization movements decades later. Albania would go on to provide diplomatic recognition and moral support to African liberation movements from Mozambique to Guinea-Bissau during the 1960s and ’70s, punching far above its weight in global anti-colonial politics. June 12, 1928, thus marks an early and symbolic commitment to global Black freedom struggles from an unlikely European ally.