Internet entrepreneur and crossword puzzle editor Timothy Parker is born in Baltimore, Maryland.

Movie theater owner Donzell Starks is born in Chicago's South Side.

Artist and art educator Kevin Cole is born on this date in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Four African American North Carolina Tech State University freshmen occupy seats at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, after they were refused service. This event sparks a wave of nonviolent sit-ins that spreads throughout the country and results in the integration of seventeen school districts and countless public arenas.

Entertainment lawyer Lisa E. Davis is born on this date in Queens, New York. Davis' clients include Spike Lee and Terry McMillan.

Real estate entrepreneur R. Donahue Peebles is born in Washington, D.C.

Inspired by the sit-in of college students at F.W. Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, Texas students conduct a lunch counter sit-in.

About one thousand African American students protest against segregation on the steps of the former Confederate Capitol building in Montgomery, Alabama. Elroy Embry, the protest organizer, warns those who cannot protest peacefully to stay away due to the extreme racial tension in the city. Nine students are expelled from Alabama State University as a result.

College students from Atlanta Univ., Clark, Morehouse, Morris Brown, Spelman, and ITC pay for an ad in the Atlanta Constitution that issued an Appeal for Human Rights.

69 people were killed and 180 wounded in South Africa's "Sharpeville Massacre" on this date. South Africa's police fired shots at unarmed men, women, and children who were protesting the "Pass Law". The "Pass Law" was a law restricting the movement of Blacks in South Africa before the abolishment of apartheid.

Cardiologist Dr. Paul L. Underwood, Jr. is born.

Journalist Russ Mitchell is born.

Actress of stage and screen Lorraine Toussaint is born in Trinidad, in the West Indies.

Between April 15 and 17, the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) is formed on the campus of Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. SNCC coordinated sit-ins, supported their leaders and publicized events. From their ranks came many of today's leaders, including Congressman John Lewis and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond.

A major race riot breaks out on Biloxi Beach after a group of African Americans move onto a section of the beach reserved for whites only. Armed whites gather and shots are fired causing the injuries of eight blacks and two whites. City leaders blame the NAACP for inciting the violence.

In the first voting case under the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the federal court finally ends restrictions against black voting in Fayette County, Tennessee.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the Civil Rights Act of 1960, which acknowledges the federal government's responsibility to become involved in matters of civil rights. Specifically, the act levied penalties upon those who attempted to obstruct another from voting, and although the problems persisted, many realized the importance of the federal government reversing its long-standing "hands off" policy towards civil rights.

Attorney Albert E. Dotson, Jr. is born on this date in Detroit, Michigan.

Music Executive Steve McKeever is born

Harry Belafonte is awarded an Emmy Award for his television special “Tonight with Harry Belafonte” on this day. Mr. Belafonte is the first African American to win the prestigious industry award.

At a Nation of Islam meeting in New York City, Elijah Muhammad calls for the creation of a black state in this country. Muhammad bases his views on the belief that harmonious residential racial integration does not work.

Publicist and business owner Priscilla Clarke is born on this date in Swindon, England. Clark is President and CEO of Clark & Associates, LLC, a public relations, event planning, entertainment and media relations company whose clients include Shaquille O'Neal, BET, and the Congressional Black Caucus.

Schools in Richmond and Roanoke, Virginia are integrated. It is one of the first school integration policies to take effect in the South.

Patricia Anne Ralph is born in Jersey City, New Jersey on this date. She will go on to become a nun and educator.

Jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis was born on this date in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Grammy Award winner has done some work as an actor in films like School Daze, Throw Momma from the Train, and Eve's Bayou. Marsalis was also the conductor of the Tonight Show Band from 1992 to 1995.

Poet and scholar Leopold S. Senghor was elected president of Senegal on this date. He served as Senegal's president from 1960 to 1981.

Six-foot-three Rafer Johnson makes Olympic history when he wins the Gold Medal in the decathlon. He sets a record of 8,392 points after clocking in at only 1.2 seconds in the 1,500-meter race. Johnson’s belief in striving for “personal best” propels him forward in accomplishing his historical achievements.

Seven year old William Campbell becomes the first black student in the all-white public schools of Raleigh, North Carolina. He will go on to serve as the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia.

Ordained minister and former city commission of Texas City, Texas Constance Jackson was born on this date in Wharton, Texas.

Nonprofit Executive & Lawyer 1897">Rey Ramsey is born.

Movie theater owner Alisa Starks is born in Chicago, Illinois.

Puppeteer Kevin Clash is born.

Journalist Deborah Roberts is born.

Real Estate Agent & Contract Specialist Barrietta Killiebrew is born.

Municipal Judge Jennifer Jones is born in Wichita, Kansas.

County administrator Vernon Jones is born in rural North Carolina.

Cardiologist Dr. Christopher Leggett is born.

NFL player and entrepreneur David Duerson is born in Muncie, Indiana.

Richard Wright, author of Native Son and Black Boy passes away.

The U.S. Census reported that Blacks made up 10.6 percent of the U.S. population on this date.