Black History Knowledge — May 26

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

May 26, 1956 — Althea Gibson wins the French Championships

Category: Tennis / Black Athletic Firsts / International Sports

Althea Gibson won the French Championships, becoming the first Black player to win a Grand Slam tennis title.

Why it matters: Gibson opened space in elite tennis long before the Williams sisters, carrying the burden of race, class, and gender in a segregated sporting world.

May 26, 2020 — Protests begin in Minneapolis after George Floyd’s killing

Category: Police Violence / Protest / Black Lives Matter / Modern Civil Rights

The day after George Floyd was killed, protesters took to the streets in Minneapolis. The protests soon spread across the country and then around the world.

Why it matters: This is a major modern civil rights entry. It shows how video evidence, local outrage, and a long history of police violence helped ignite a global racial justice movement.

May 26, 2020 — Four officers involved in George Floyd’s killing are fired

Category: Police Accountability / Public Pressure / Modern Civil Rights

Minneapolis officials fired the four police officers involved in George Floyd’s killing after video of the incident spread publicly.

Why it matters: This entry shows the immediate force of public documentation and public pressure. It also shows how accountability often begins only after Black suffering is made visible to the world.