This Day In History: 2017-03-26
March 6, 1964 – “Muhammad Ali Announces His Conversion to Islam” Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, held a press conference to announce his conversion to Islam. Ali had recently become the youngest boxer to win the heavyweight championship from another boxer, Sonny Liston. His joining the Nation of Islam led to Ali becoming a pivotal civil rights leader. He would go on to become one of the most prominent sports figures of the 20th century. During the time of his conversion, he was mentored both by Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X.
1963 - “First African-American Woman to Hold a Cabinet Position and Serve as a U.S. Ambassador” Advocate of women’s rights, Patricia Roberts Harris was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to co-chair the National Women’s Committee for Civil Rights. In 1965, one year after the civil rights act, Patricia R. Harris made history under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the first black female U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. She broke another barrier two years later as the first Dean of Law at her alma mater, Howard University; she became the first black woman to head a law school in the U.S.