Today in labor history: Atheists and religious alike celebrate “Darwin Day”
People worldwide are celebrating Darwin's life.
Today in labor history: first legal protest by slaves in New York
On this date in 1644 the first "legal" protest by Africans in America occurred.
Today in black history: Leontyne Price born
Her voice was "rich, supple and shining, it was in its prime capable of effortlessly soaring from a smoky mezzo to the pure soprano gold of a perfectly spun high C."
Today in black history: Medgar Evers’ killer convicted
White supremacist Byron De La Beckwith was convicted in the murder of African-American civil rights leader Medgar Evers, over 30 years after the crime occurred.
Today in black history: First black quarterback inducted into NFL Hall of Fame
He won five Grey Cups, and is notable for helping to erase the prejudice within the world of sports that black quarterbacks could not succeed in professional football.
Today in labor history: Deadly chemical plant explosion in 1971
On Feb. 3, 1971 there was a major explosion at the Thiokol Chemical Plant located near Woodbine, Georgia.
Today in labor history: 13th Amendment abolishes slavery
The amendment said, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude ... shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
Today in Labor history: Pancho Villa escapes capture
On January 28, 1917 the United States government gave up the search for Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa. What is officially known in the United States as the "Mexican Expedition" started March 14, 1916 and involved 5,000 U.S military personnel lead by Major General John J. Pershing.
Today in labor history: Rubber workers start huge sit-down strike
The sit-down tactic proved extremely effective. Workers literally sat in at their jobs and refused to leave. As a result, the company was unable to hire scab replacements.
Today in labor history: 109 coal miners die in explosion
The coal miners were underpaid Eastern Europeans who were told not to complain about their substandard and dangerous working conditons.
