Black History Knowledge
Black History Knowledge — June 22
Jun
What happened on this day. These are the June 22 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.
1908 — Nine Black men are lynched in Sabine County, Texas
On June 22, 1908, a white mob lynched nine Black men in Sabine County, Texas, within a 24-hour period. The mob violence also included attacks on Black community institutions, including the burning of a Black church and school.
1938 — Joe Louis defeats Max Schmeling at Yankee Stadium
On June 22, 1938, Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in just over two minutes at Yankee Stadium. The fight carried deep meaning for Black Americans because Louis’s victory became a symbol of Black pride, American representation, and resistance to Nazi racial ideology.
1944 — The G.I. Bill is signed, but Black veterans face discrimination
On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, better known as the G.I. Bill. Although it promised education, housing, and economic support for returning veterans, Black veterans were often blocked from full access through segregation, racist lending practices, and local discrimination.
