CalEvents:Mar/Mar 24
From Sankofapedia
Notable events for March 24
Date
Event
Significance
March 24, 1827
Freedom's Journal, the first African-American newspaper, published
On this day, *Freedom's Journal*, the first African-American owned and operated newspaper, was published in New York City. The newspaper provided a platform for African-American voices during a time of limited opportunities for Black expression and played a crucial role in the abolitionist movement.
March 24, 1882
Robert Smalls elected to U.S. Congress
On this day, Robert Smalls, an African-American former slave, Civil War hero, and politician, was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Smalls' career as a legislator made him a key figure in the fight for African-American rights during Reconstruction and beyond.
March 24, 1965
Martin Luther King Jr. leads the final Selma to Montgomery march
On this day, Martin Luther King Jr. led the final Selma to Montgomery march, which successfully arrived at the Alabama State Capitol. The march was part of a campaign to secure voting rights for African Americans and played a key role in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
March 24, 1976
Patrice Lumumba University founded in Moscow
On this day, Patrice Lumumba University was founded in Moscow, Russia. Named after the assassinated Congolese leader, the university aimed to provide higher education for students from developing countries, especially from Africa, promoting solidarity among the Global South.
March 24, 1999
NATO launches bombing campaign against Yugoslavia
On this day, NATO launched a bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in response to ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Though not directly related to Africa, the conflict drew attention to international humanitarian intervention, an issue that also resonates within the African continent and diaspora regarding conflicts like Rwanda and Darfur.
March 24, 2002
Angola officially ends its 27-year civil war
On this day, Angola officially declared an end to its nearly three-decade civil war following a ceasefire between government forces and UNITA rebels. The war, which began after Angola's independence from Portugal, was one of the most devastating conflicts in African history.
March 24, 2018
March for Our Lives protests in the United States
On this day, mass protests occurred across the United States against gun violence, sparked by the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. While primarily a U.S. movement, African-American communities were deeply involved in the protests, as gun violence disproportionately affects Black Americans.