Celebrating Black History
and Legacy
Honoring the innovators, leaders, artists, and heroes who shaped the world
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Today in Black History
November 4 · Eastern Time
Featured historical story — not an anniversary for today
A year of heritage
Discover Black History Every Day
Explore the milestones. Remember the trailblazers. Make room for your own story.
History's Greatest
Explore the remarkable lives of Black innovators, leaders, artists, and heroes who changed the world
Civil Rights LeadersJohn Lewis
1940–2020
Civil rights leader and congressman known for 'good trouble.'
ScientistsDorothy Vaughan
1910–2008
NASA's first Black supervisor and pioneer in computer programming.
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"The time is always right to do what is right."
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Historical Timeline
From the depths of slavery to the heights of achievement — a journey through Black American history
First Enslaved Africans Arrive in Virginia
The first recorded Africans in English North America arrive at Point Comfort, Virginia, marking the beginning of slavery in colonial America.
Stono Rebellion
The largest slave rebellion in the British mainland colonies takes place near Charleston, South Carolina.
Fugitive Slave Act
Congress passes the first Fugitive Slave Act, making it a federal crime to assist an enslaved person trying to escape.
Slave Trade Abolished
Congress bans the importation of enslaved people, though domestic slavery continues.
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner leads the most significant slave rebellion in American history in Southampton County, Virginia.
Harriet Tubman Escapes
Harriet Tubman escapes slavery and begins her work on the Underground Railroad.
Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court rules that African Americans are not citizens, intensifying the national debate over slavery.
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln declares enslaved people in Confederate states to be free.
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment officially abolishes slavery throughout the United States.
Civil Rights Act of 1866
First federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law.
14th Amendment
Grants citizenship to all persons born in the United States, including formerly enslaved people.
15th Amendment
Prohibits denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Plessy v. Ferguson
Supreme Court upholds 'separate but equal' doctrine, legalizing racial segregation.
W.E.B. Du Bois Publishes 'The Souls of Black Folk'
A groundbreaking work challenging racial inequality and Booker T. Washington's accommodationist approach.
NAACP Founded
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is founded to advance justice for African Americans.
Harlem Renaissance
A cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, celebrating African American culture.
Jesse Owens at Berlin Olympics
Jesse Owens wins four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, defying Nazi racial ideology.
Tuskegee Airmen Begin Training
The first Black military pilots begin training at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama.
Jackie Robinson Breaks the Color Barrier
Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era.
Military Desegregation
President Truman signs Executive Order 9981, desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces.
Brown v. Board of Education
Supreme Court declares school segregation unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson.
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat, sparking a 381-day boycott that desegregates Montgomery's buses.
Little Rock Nine
Nine Black students integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, with federal troop protection.
Greensboro Sit-ins
Four Black college students stage a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter, sparking a national movement.
March on Washington
Over 250,000 people gather where Dr. King delivers his iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech.
Civil Rights Act
Landmark legislation outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Voting Rights Act
Prohibits racial discrimination in voting, removing barriers that prevented African Americans from voting.
Black Panther Party Founded
Huey Newton and Bobby Seale found the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in Oakland, California.
Thurgood Marshall Appointed
Thurgood Marshall becomes the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
Fair Housing Act
Prohibits discrimination in housing sales, rentals, and financing based on race.
MLK Day Established
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is signed into law as a federal holiday.
First Black Astronaut in Space
Guion Bluford becomes the first African American in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.
Mae Jemison in Space
Dr. Mae C. Jemison becomes the first African American woman to travel into space.
Colin Powell as Secretary of State
Colin Powell becomes the first African American Secretary of State.
Barack Obama Elected
Barack Obama is elected as the 44th President, the first African American to hold the office.
Black Lives Matter Founded
The Black Lives Matter movement is founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi.
BLM Global Movement
The Black Lives Matter movement gains worldwide momentum, demanding racial justice and police reform.
Kamala Harris Inaugurated
Kamala Harris becomes the first female, first Black, and first South Asian Vice President.
Photo Gallery
Historic images capturing moments that changed the world
Garrett Morgan
Invented the traffic signal and the gas mask, saving countless lives.
Lewis Latimer
Improved the light bulb and drafted the patent for Alexander Graham Bell's telephone.
Alexander Miles
Invented the automatic elevator door, making elevators safe for public use.
Granville T. Woods
Known as 'Black Edison,' he held over 60 patents including the multiplex telegraph.
Elijah McCoy
Invented the automatic lubricator for steam engines — origin of 'the real McCoy.'
Sarah Boone
Improved the ironing board design to efficiently press women's garments.
Jan Ernst Matzeliger
Invented the shoe lasting machine, revolutionizing the shoe industry.
Lonnie Johnson
NASA engineer who invented the Super Soaker water gun and advanced energy systems.
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