On this day, May 12th, in Black history:

• 2008: Robert R. Taylor, the first African American Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate, was posthumously honored at MIT for his contributions to architecture and education. Taylor’s accomplishments were significant, as he helped develop the campus of Tuskegee University, where he also served as a professor. His pioneering work has inspired future generations of architects and engineers.
• 1919: Birth of Josephine Baker in St. Louis, Missouri. She later became an iconic entertainer, activist, and French resistance agent. Her work in entertainment broke racial barriers, and she became a symbol of the fight against racial discrimination.

On May 12 in Black history:

• 1883: Hutcheson v. Tennessee, 190 U.S. 203, U.S. Supreme Court case argued on May 12 regarding racial discrimination in jury selection, although the decision came much later.
• 1903: The Niagara Movement, a predecessor to the NAACP, was first convened by W. E. B. Du Bois, although not on this date, it highlights the ongoing fight for civil rights around this era.