Black History Knowledge
Black History Knowledge — June 16
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What happened on this day. These are the June 16 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.
1944 — George Stinney Jr. is executed in South Carolina
On June 16, 1944, George Stinney Jr., a 14-year-old Black boy, was executed in South Carolina after a deeply unjust trial. This belongs in the Knowledge track because it is an act of state violence against a Black child, not an ordinary death anniversary.
1966 — Stokely Carmichael calls for “Black Power” in Greenwood, Mississippi
On June 16, 1966, during the March Against Fear, Stokely Carmichael spoke at a rally in Greenwood, Mississippi, and called for “Black Power.” The phrase marked a major shift in the freedom struggle, emphasizing self-determination, political power, pride, and community control.
1970 — Kenneth Gibson is elected mayor of Newark
On June 16, 1970, Kenneth A. Gibson was elected mayor of Newark, New Jersey. His election made him the first Black mayor of a major city in the northeastern United States and reflected the growing political power of Black urban communities after the civil rights era.
