1877 - Henry O. Flipper graduates West Point.

On June 15, 1877, Henry Ossian Flipper became the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Born into slavery in Georgia, Flipper overcame intense racial discrimination during his years at the Academy. Despite systemic ostracism, he persisted and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. His accomplishment was groundbreaking during the post-Reconstruction era, symbolizing the beginning of African Americans’ entry into elite military leadership. However, his military career was marred by racial prejudice—he was unjustly court-martialed and dismissed. In 1999, President Bill Clinton posthumously granted him a full pardon, recognizing the injustice. Flipper’s legacy endures as a symbol of perseverance, courage, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality in the U.S. armed forces.