Cassius Clay becomes a Muslim and adopts the name Muhammad Ali.

Ragtime pianist and composer Eubie Blake born in Baltimore, Maryland.

Arthur Ashe, legendary tennis player and activist, dies in New York City.

Bob Marley is born in Saint Ann, Jamaica.

Negro History Week, originated by Carter G. Woodson, is observed for the first time.

Robert Tanner Freeman becomes the first African American to receive a degree in dentistry.

White supremacist Byron de la Beckwith is convicted of the murder of Medgar Evers, more than thirty years after Evers was ambushed and shot in the back.

Jury selection begins in the Los Angeles cops beating Rodney King case.

Kareem Abdul-Jabar becomes first NBA player to score 38,000 points.

Hank Aaron, major league baseball home run king, is born in Mobile, Alabama.