(1914) Boxer Joe Louis is born.

(1943) Motown singer Mary Wells is born.

(1897) Jazz musician Sidney Bechet is born.

(1961) The Freedom Riders leave for Atlanta for Birmingham.

(1966) Poet Georgia Douglas Johnson dies.

(1832) Stagecoach driver Mary Fields, a western cowgirl, is born.

(1930) Jazz singer Betty Carter is born.

(1979) Civil rights leader Asa Philip Randolph dies.

(1990) Sammy Davis, Jr. dies.

(1864) Musician John William Boone (aka Blind Boone) is born.

(1893) Frederick Jones, inventor of the truck refrigeration system, is born.

(1903) Baseball player Cool Papa Bell (aka James Thomas Bell) is born.

(2000) Thomas Blanton Jr. and Bobby Frank Cherry were charged with murdering the four girls in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

(1911) Singer Big Joe Turner is born.

(1946) Baseball player Reggie Jackson is born.

(1986) Entertainer John W. Bubbles dies.

(1925) Malcolm X is born.

(1930) Playwright Lorraine Hansberry is born.

(1950) Track and field athlete Rod Milburn is born.