CalEvents:Feb/Feb 26
From Sankofapedia
Notable events for February 26
Date
Event
Significance
February 26, 1869
Congress passes the 15th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
On this day, the U.S. Congress passed the 15th Amendment, granting African-American men the right to vote. This amendment was a major milestone in the struggle for African-American civil rights, though many barriers to voting remained for African-Americans in the South.
February 26, 1928
Birth of Fannie Lou Hamer, African-American civil rights leader
On this day, Fannie Lou Hamer, a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement, was born. Hamer played a key role in advocating for voting rights for African-Americans and co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which challenged racial segregation in politics.
February 26, 1966
Kwame Nkrumah removed from power in Ghana
On this day, Ghana's first president and leading Pan-Africanist, Kwame Nkrumah, was overthrown in a military coup while on a state visit to China. His removal marked a turning point in Ghanaian history and a setback for Pan-Africanism across the continent.
February 26, 1971
U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination enters into force
On this day, the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination officially came into force. This global agreement aimed to combat racial discrimination, and it became a key international tool in the fight for racial justice and equality worldwide, including in African and African diasporic communities.
February 26, 1993
World Trade Center bombing in New York
On this day, a bomb exploded at the World Trade Center in New York, killing six people and injuring more than a thousand. Though not directly linked to African-American or Pan-African history, the attack underscored the growing challenges of terrorism, which would later have implications for African and African diaspora communities.
February 26, 2012
Trayvon Martin killed in Florida
On this day, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was fatally shot by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida. Martin’s death sparked nationwide protests and ignited the Black Lives Matter movement, which highlighted ongoing issues of racial profiling, police violence, and systemic racism in the United States.
February 26, 2014
Ugandan President signs Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law
On this day, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law, which imposed harsh penalties on LGBTQ+ individuals. The law drew widespread international criticism and fueled debates on human rights across Africa and the diaspora.