Black History Knowledge — August 11

What happened on this day. These are the August 11 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.

1965 — The Watts Rebellion begins in Los Angeles

On August 11, 1965, the arrest of Marquette Frye after a traffic stop sparked six days of unrest in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. The rebellion grew from long-standing anger over police abuse, segregated housing, unemployment, and unequal public services.

1973 — A Bronx party helps launch hip-hop culture

On August 11, 1973, Cindy Campbell organized a back-to-school party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, where her brother DJ Kool Herc extended instrumental breaks for dancers. The gathering is widely recognized as a foundational moment in hip-hop, a culture created by Black and Latino youth.

1984 — Carl Lewis completes a four-gold Olympic performance

On August 11, 1984, Carl Lewis anchored the United States 4-by-100-meter relay team to a world record and his fourth gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics. The victory allowed him to match Jesse Owens’s four-gold achievement from the 1936 Games.