This Week in Black History (May 14–20): Honoring Triumphs and Tragedies

From May 14 to 20, we reflect on powerful milestones in Black history. On May 14, 1885, Erskine Henderson, a pioneering African American jockey, won the Kentucky Derby riding Joe Cotton—becoming the sixth Black jockey to win the prestigious race during a time when Black riders led the sport.That same date in 1970 marked a tragic event at Jackson State University in Mississippi, where police opened fire during a student protest, killing Phillip Lafayette Gibbs and James Earl Green, and injuring 12 others. The demonstration was in response to racial injustice and the Vietnam War, echoing national unrest.These moments remind us of both the triumph and the cost of the fight for justice—and the importance of remembering those who paved the way.