Led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights activists open a voter registration drive for African Americans in Selma, Alabama. Police begin arresting potential black voters and their supporters. A federal court issues an order prohibiting interference with those seeking the right to vote, but violent white resistance to black voting in Alabama continues to grow as more blacks register throughout the state.

Hair stylist and entrepreneur Antonio Anderson is born on this date in Atlanta, Georgia.

Geraldine McCullough wins the Widener Gold Medal for Sculpture for her steel and copper structure, Phoenix.

Malcolm X, a former Nation of Islam leader, spokesperson and mentee of Elijah Muhammad, is shot to death in New York City in front of more than four hundred members of his recently formed Organization for Afro-American Unity.

Bill Russell is named NBA's MVP for the fourth time on this date. He won it a fifth time, was named "Player of the Year" and the first Black NBA coach.

Congress passes the Voting Rights Act, which allows federal agents to register Black voters if state agents refuse to do so.

John Lewis and Hosea Williams lead Civil Rights Marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. They are viciously attacked and the incident becomes known as "Bloody Sunday".

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. is born in Chicago, Illinois.

President Lyndon B. Johnson calls the incident in Selma, "Bloody Sunday", an American tragedy. He stated, ". . .It is wrong to deny any person full equality because of the color of his skin."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leads thousands of demonstrators on a march from Selma to Alabama's state capitol in Montgomery. The march was started in order to help bring attention to the cause and struggle of getting Blacks registered to vote. This led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year. The march lasted for five days.

The Selma to Montgomery marchers reached Alabama's state capitol on this date and petitioned Governor George Wallace to end the violence and hatred in the state of Alabama. Dr. King made a speech and months later the Voting Rights Act was passed.

Vivian Malone became the first Black graduate of the University of Alabama on this date.

UCLA student Arthur Ashe becomes the first African American to win the NCAA singles and doubles titles. After this first win, Ashe’s career grows, as he becomes an inspiration for upcoming African American athletes.

Thurgood Marshall was appointed U.S. Solicitor General on this date by President Lyndon Johnson. He was the first Black appointed to this position and later became the first Black Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act, abolishing practices such as literacy tests for voting eligibility in the South.

A routine traffic stop escalates to police brutality in the predominantly black neighborhood of Watts, Los Angeles, providing the spark for years of racial tension. More than five days of rioting leave about thirty-five dead, nine hundred injured, thirty-five hundred arrested and property losses worth more than $225 million. The riots become known as the most serious racial disturbance in American history.

Actress Dorothy Dandridge died on this date in Hollywood, California. Dandridge was the first African American woman to win an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance in Carmen Jones. Some of her other film credits include Porgy and Bess and Island in the Sun.

George Baker or "Father Divine" died on this date in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Baker founded the Peace Mission Movement.

Athlete Ralph Boston soars through the air at twenty-seven feet and five inches at the California Relays, creating a new broad-jump record. This new record breaks his old one by three-quarters of an inch.

WGPR-TV in Detroit, Michigan broadcasts on-air, becoming the first black-owned television station. It is organized and owned by a Detroit group headed by Dr. William V. Banks.

Architectural writer and critic Lee Bey is born on this date in Chicago, Illinois.

Patricia R. Harris was appointed Ambassador to Luxembourg on this date. She became the first African American woman to hold such a position.

Jazz alto saxophonist Earl Bostic died on this date in Rochester, New York. Some of Bostic's hit tunes include Flamingo, Sleep, and Temptation.

Julian Bond is elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. Due to his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War, Bond is barred from taking his seat. Bond sued, and the Supreme Court ruled in his favor.

The Interstate Commerce Commission banned segregation of public vehicles and waiting rooms on this date.