Darkar, Senegal, Darkar, Senegal, served as the site served as the site for the first World for the first World Festival of Black Festival of Black Arts. The festival, Arts. The festival, which lasts three which lasts three weeks, began in weeks, began in 1966.1966.

On this day in On this day in 1513, Juan Ponce 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon discovered de Leon discovered Florida. The land Florida. The land was claimed by was claimed by Ponce de Leon for Ponce de Leon for the king of Spain.the king of Spain.

The Reverend Dr. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed King, Jr. was killed in Memphis, in Memphis, Tennessee in 1968. Tennessee in 1968. While standing on While standing on a balcony at the a balcony at the LorraineLorraine

Motel, Dr. King Motel, Dr. King was struck in the was struck in the neck by a bullet neck by a bullet fired by a fired by a gunman in an gunman in an alley.alley.

In 1805, with the In 1805, with the help of a Shoshone help of a Shoshone guide named guide named Sacagawea, Lewis Sacagawea, Lewis and Clark and Clark continued their continued their expe-dition down expe-dition down the Mis-souri River the Mis-souri River and across the and across the Rocky Mountains. Rocky Mountains.

When Lewis and When Lewis and Clark met up with Clark met up with members of the members of the Shoeshone Nation, Shoeshone Nation, Sacagawea served Sacagawea served as an inter-preter to as an inter-preter to help them trade help them trade gifts for horses and gifts for horses and supplies.supplies.

In 1990, President In 1990, President Bush issued an Bush issued an executive order executive order that protected that protected Chinese students Chinese students studying in the studying in the United States from United States from being deported to being deported to China when theirChina when their

visas expired. The visas expired. The exec-utive order, which exec-utive order, which deferred deportation deferred deportation until January 1, 1994, until January 1, 1994, was in response to the was in response to the Tiananmen Square Tiananmen Square uprising that took place uprising that took place in 1989 and resulted in in 1989 and resulted in the deaths of hundreds the deaths of hundreds pf Chinese student pf Chinese student protesters. protesters.

During this week in During this week in 1947, a United States 1947, a United States appeals court in San appeals court in San Francisco ruled that Francisco ruled that segregation of segregation of Mexican American Mexican American children in Southern children in Southern California schools was California schools was unconstitutional.unconstitutional.

visas expired. The visas expired. The exec-utive order, which exec-utive order, which deferred deportation deferred deportation until January 1, 1994, until January 1, 1994, was in response to the was in response to the Tiananmen Square Tiananmen Square uprising that took place uprising that took place in 1989 and resulted in in 1989 and resulted in the deaths of hundreds the deaths of hundreds pf Chinese student pf Chinese student protesters. protesters.

In 1869, Ebeneezer In 1869, Ebeneezer Carlos Bennet Carlos Bennet became the first became the first African American to African American to receive a diplomatic receive a diplomatic appointment. With appointment. With his appointment, his appointment, Bennet became the Bennet became the Minister of Haiti.Minister of Haiti.

When Lewis and When Lewis and Clark met up with Clark met up with members of the members of the Shoeshone Nation, Shoeshone Nation, Sacagawea served Sacagawea served as an inter-preter to as an inter-preter to help them trade help them trade gifts for horses and gifts for horses and supplies.supplies.

American patriot American patriot and silversmith Paul and silversmith Paul Revere made his fa-Revere made his fa-mous ride from mous ride from Boston to Lexing-Boston to Lexing-ton, Mass. in 1775 ton, Mass. in 1775 to warn patriot to warn patriot forces that British forces that British troops were on their troops were on their way.way.

When Lewis and When Lewis and Clark met up with Clark met up with members of the members of the Shoeshone Nation, Shoeshone Nation, Sacagawea served Sacagawea served as an inter-preter to as an inter-preter to help them trade help them trade gifts for horses and gifts for horses and supplies.supplies.

Two significant Two significant events occurred on events occurred on this day in history. this day in history. Adolf Hitler, Nazi Adolf Hitler, Nazi

dictator of Germany dictator of Germany form 1933 to 1945, form 1933 to 1945,

was born in 1889; and was born in 1889; and the tragedy at the tragedy at

Columbine High Columbine High School resultedSchool resulted

when two students when two students opened fire, killing opened fire, killing twelve students, twelve students, one teacher, and one teacher, and

injuring twenty-five injuring twenty-five others before others before

killing themselves. killing themselves.

With the assistance of With the assistance of five African American five African American Women, Clara Barton Women, Clara Barton

administered first aid to administered first aid to Civil War wounded Civil War wounded

during passage through during passage through Baltimore in 1861. Baltimore in 1861. Barton later won Barton later won

national recognition as national recognition as the founder of the the founder of the

American Red Cross.American Red Cross.

With the assistance With the assistance of five African of five African American Women, American Women, Clara Barton Clara Barton administered first administered first aid to Civil War aid to Civil War wounded during wounded during passage through passage through Baltimore in 1861. Baltimore in 1861. Barton later wonBarton later won

During this week in During this week in 1968, Eric Stravo 1968, Eric Stravo Galt was indicted Galt was indicted earlier in the year earlier in the year for the for the assassination of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Luther King, Jr. On May 7, May 7,

the name on the the name on the indictment was indictment was formally changed to formally changed to James Earl Ray when James Earl Ray when the govern-ment the govern-ment learned the true learned the true identity of the identity of the alleged assassin.alleged assassin.

Following the Following the destruc-tion of the destruc-tion of the USS Maine in USS Maine in Havana Harbor and Havana Harbor and other events, the other events, the United States United States officially declared officially declared war against Spain war against Spain on this date in 1898. on this date in 1898.

After a relentless After a relentless search, the hiding search, the hiding place of John Wilkes place of John Wilkes Booth was Booth was discovered by discovered by federal troops in federal troops in 1865. Booth had 1865. Booth had been hiding out on been hiding out on the farm of Richard the farm of Richard Garrett nearGarrett near

Port Royal, Virginia. Port Royal, Virginia. When the assassin When the assassin of Lincoln refused to of Lincoln refused to come out of a barn come out of a barn and surrender, a US and surrender, a US soldier shot and soldier shot and killed Booth, despite killed Booth, despite orders to capture orders to capture Booth alive.Booth alive.

Because of his Because of his refusal to be drafted refusal to be drafted into the US Army, into the US Army, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ali, claiming the status claiming the status of conscientious of conscientious object-or as object-or as required by his required by his Islamic faith, was Islamic faith, was stripped of his stripped of his heavy-heavy-

weight weight championship belt championship belt in 1967. Ali also in 1967. Ali also objected to the war objected to the war in Vietnam because in Vietnam because he viewed the he viewed the goals of the war as goals of the war as being im-perialistic being im-perialistic and racist.and racist.

During this week in 1941, During this week in 1941, the American Oriental the American Oriental Society issued a report Society issued a report concluding that Chinese concluding that Chinese characters are written characters are written

up-and-down instead of up-and-down instead of across the page because across the page because ancient Chinese books ancient Chinese books

were written on bamboo were written on bamboo slats.slats.

In 1992, a In 1992, a California jury California jury acquitted four Los acquitted four Los Angeles officers in Angeles officers in the beating of the beating of African American African American Rodney King. In Rodney King. In response to the response to the verdict, which was verdict, which was believed unfair bybelieved unfair by

many US citizens of many US citizens of all races because all races because of a videotape of of a videotape of the beating the beating incident, four days incident, four days of rioting ensued in of rioting ensued in L.A. The rioting L.A. The rioting resulted in resulted in numerous injuries numerous injuries and deaths, and deaths,

and property and property damage exceeding damage exceeding $100 million.$100 million.

Author Maxine Author Maxine Hong Kingston Hong Kingston won a won a National National Book Award in Book Award in 1981 in the general 1981 in the general nonfiction category nonfiction category for her book, for her book, China China MenMen..