Black History Knowledge — July 26

What happened on this day. These are the July 26 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.

1948 — Executive Order 9980 attacks discrimination in federal employment

On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9980, calling for fair employment practices in the federal government without discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin. It marked a federal step toward equal opportunity in government work.

1948 — Executive Order 9981 moves toward military desegregation

On July 26, 1948, Truman also signed Executive Order 9981, declaring equality of treatment and opportunity in the armed services. The order began the formal process of desegregating the U.S. military.

1949 — Ernest Thomas of the Groveland Four is killed

On July 26, 1949, Ernest Thomas, one of the falsely accused Groveland Four, was tracked down and killed by a white mob in Florida. His death was part of a larger case of racial terror, false accusation, and legal injustice that Florida later moved to acknowledge and correct.