William Thaddeus Coleman, Jr., is appointed the first black clerk of the United States Supreme Court.

Prompted by a lawsuit filed by African American golfers Bill Spiller, Ted Rhodes and Madison Gunter, the Professional Golfer's Association of America dropped the discriminatory clause from its charter.

Entertainment promoter Fred Jones, Jr. is born in Memphis, Tennessee.

The United States Supreme Court decision Sipuel v. Oklahoma State Board of Regents required that all state funded law schools must open their doors to African Americans and citizens of any other race.

Photographer, Educator & Curator Deborah Willis is born.

Educator and author Nelvia Brady is born in Chicago, Illinois.

Magazine Publisher Pat Lottier is born.

Law professor Vernellia Randall is born on this date in Gladewater, Texas.

Political leader and fomer mayor of Fairfield, Alabama, Larry Langford is born on this date in Birmingham, Alabama.

Educator & Culinary Historian Jessica Harris is born

McDonald's Franchisee Reginald “Reggie” Webb is born

Publisher Cheryl Hudson is born.

Human relations executive Beverly Evans Smith is born on this date in Massillon, Ohio.

Historian, attorney and playwright Robert C. Johnson, Jr. is born on this date in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Georgia State Representative Calvin Smyre is born.

The National Party of South Africa began to institute Apartheid on this date.

Soul singer and music producer Curtis Mayfield was born on this date in Chicago, Illinois. Mayfield began his professional music career with the group, The Impressions in the 1960's. He went solo and is probably best known for his musical contributions to the film Superfly. Mayfield's other hits include So In Love and Future Shock.

Civil rights attorney Oliver Hill becomes the first African American to be elected to the city council of Richmond, Virginia.

Attorney Jock M. Smith is born.

Attorney John W. Daniels, Jr. is born.

Entrepreneur & Philanthropist 1935">Willie Lee Wilson is born.

Boxing great Joe Louis retained his heavyweight title by defeating Jersey Joe Walcott with an eleventh round knockout in Madison Square Garden on this date.

Several southern white delegates storm out of the National Democratic Convention after a strong civil rights platform is adopted by the party.

Negro League Baseball legend Leroy "Satchel" Paige signed with the Cleveland Indians on this date, one year after Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby broke the color barrier in both the National and American Leagues respectively.

Social activist Ruby Sales is born in Jemison, Alabama.

Surgeon Dr. Rogsbert Phillips is born.

Theatrical Manager Veronica Claypool is born.

President 0">Harry Truman signs executive orders 9980 and 9981, which establish a Fair Employment Board to eliminate racial discrimination in federal employment and creates a Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. While these did not immediately end segregation in the military, they laid the groundwork for this to be completed in a few years.

Union leader Clayola Brown was born Clayola Beatrice Oliver on this date in Charleston, South Carolina.

Alice Coachman becomes the first African American woman to win Olympic gold when she defeats Britain's Dorothy Tyler in the high jump. Coachman's jump also sets an Olympic record for the event.

Opera soprano singer Kathleen Battle was born on this date in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Newspaper Publisher, Editor & Educator Marguerita Le Etta Washington is born.

Edith Mae Irby becomes the first African American student to attend the University of Arkansas.

Physician & Educator Dr. Linda Rae Murray is born

Publisher Hermene Hartman is born in Chicago, Illinois.

Physicist Herman B. White is born on this date in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Television journalist Bryant Gumbel was born on this date in New Orleans, Louisiana. Gumbel has hosted shows like NBC's Today Show, CBS's Early Show, and Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

Artistic Director, producer and executive producer of the National Black Arts Festival, Stephanie Smith Hughley is born on this date in Canton, Ohio.

Playwright and author Ntozake Shange was born Paulette Williams on this date in Trenton, New Jersey.

Hair Stylist James Harris is born.

Former NAACP president and CEO Kweisi Mfume was born on this date in Turners Station, Maryland. Mfume was a Congressman before joining the NAACP and served as leader of the Congressional Black Caucus from 1992 to 1994.

Entrepreneur Michael V. Roberts is born.

Actress & Producer Sheila Frazier is born.

Geneaologist Anthony "Tony" Burroughs was born on this date in Chicago, Illinois.

Restaurant franchisee Blanton Canady is born in West Point, Georgia.

Educator & Author Jemadari Kamara is born.

Actor of the screen and stage James Avery is born in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Journalist Jay Harris is born on this date in Washington, D.C.

Minister, educator and author Reverend Dr. Jacquelyn Grant is born in Georgetown, South Carolina.

Academy Award nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson was born on this date in Washington, D.C. Jackson's film credits include Jungle Fever, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, and Eve's Bayou.

Boston City Councilman Charles C. Yancey is born on this date in Boston, Massachusetts.

Corporate insurance executive Gregory Jones was born on this date in Newark, Ohio.

Disco queen Donna Summer was born LaDonna Andre Gaines on this date in Boston, Massachusetts. Some of Summer's hits include Last Dance and Hot Stuff.