October 6, 1871: The Fisk Jubilee Singers began their famous singing tours.

How they began: In 1866 John Ogden and Reverends Erastus Milo Cravath and Edward P. Smith established the Fisk School in Nashville, Tennessee. The school was named in honor of General Clinton B. Fisk of the Tennessee Freedman Bureau. The school was incorporated as Fisk University in 1867. Five years after opening the school was in financial trouble. George L. White, Fisk treasurer and music professor created a choral ensemble of students to raise money for the University. On October 6, 1871 the Fisk Jubilee Singers began their singing tours. The students struggled at first, but before long they were singing before audiences throughout the United States and in Europe. The Jubilee Singers sang old slave songs and are credited with introducing much of the world to spirituals.

Fisk University Jubilee Hall

                  
     October 25, 1940
Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. became the first African American to serve as general in the US Army.

Davis joined the military in 1898 and served until 1948.

He was the recipient of the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Service Medal.

His son, Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was the first Black general in the US Air Force.

                                                                                          




 October 2, 1967
Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first Black Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

October 1, 1989
Colin Powell began serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

October 16, 1995: Million Man March
Organized by Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Million Man March was a day long rally that promoted self-empowerment and personal responsibility. During his keynote address Minister Farrakhan asked the participants to take a pledge that they will strive to improve themselves spiritually, morally, mentally, socially, politically and economically.