CalEvents:Jan/Jan 6

Notable events for January 6

Date

Event

Significance

January 6, 1839

Rebellion aboard the Amistad slave ship

Joseph Cinqué led a revolt aboard the Spanish slave ship *La Amistad*. The captured Africans aboard eventually gained their freedom after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1841. This event became a powerful symbol of resistance to slavery and injustice.

January 6, 1941

Four Freedoms speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt

While delivered in the context of World War II, Roosevelt’s speech outlined freedoms that later inspired global civil rights movements, including African-American and Pan-African struggles for justice and equality during and after the war.

January 6, 1955

Marian Anderson performs at the Metropolitan Opera

On this day, Marian Anderson became the first African-American singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Her groundbreaking performance was a major milestone in African-American cultural history and the desegregation of American arts.

January 6, 1957

Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah proposes creation of the United States of Africa

Kwame Nkrumah, a leading figure in the Pan-African movement, called for the formation of a united African state. His vision for African unity influenced many liberation movements and discussions about African continental integration.

January 6, 1991

South African authorities lift the ban on 33 anti-apartheid organizations

The South African government lifted the ban on 33 anti-apartheid organizations, including the African National Congress (ANC). This marked a key moment in the process of dismantling apartheid, which would culminate in the country's first democratic elections in 1994.

January 6, 2005

Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Sudan

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), ending over two decades of civil war. This agreement led to the creation of an autonomous government in Southern Sudan, setting the stage for South Sudan’s independence in 2011.

January 6, 2017

Barack Obama delivers farewell speech as U.S. President

Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States, delivered his farewell address on this day. His presidency was a landmark achievement for African Americans and resonated with people across the African diaspora.

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