Kamala Harris becomes the first Black American, Indian American, and more simply woman to serve as California's attorney general. 

The African Burial Ground National Monument Visitor Center opens in downtown New York City.  

Black voter turnout for the presidential election reportedly surpassed that of white voters for the first time in American history, despite growing Black voter suppression efforts. 

The New York Stop-and-Frisk Program, which allowed NYC police officers with "reasonable suspicion" to stop civilians is deemed unconstitutional by a New York District Court judge. This policy ultimately targeted Black and Latino citizens and often resulted in cases of wrongful arrest and police brutality. 

The #BlackLivesMatter movement is started by Alicia Garza, Patrice Cullors and Opal Tometi in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin.

Eric Garner is murdered by New York City police officers. After being suspected of selling untaxed cigarettes in Staten Island, officers placed him in a prohibited chokehold, pinned him to the ground and continued to choke him despite Garner stating that he could not breathe. The responsible officer, Daniel Pantaelo, was not indicted despite being filmed. 

Teenager Michael Brown is shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. This results in intense riots that only escalate when a grand jury chooses not to indict Wilson.

12-year-old Tamir Rice is shot and killed in Cleveland, Ohio for playing with a toy gun. No officers were charged. 

Wendell Scott, the first Black man to drive in NASCAR, becomes the first Black man to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. 

Loretta Lynch becomes the first Black woman to serve as Attorney General of the United States. 

Misty Copeland becomes the first Black woman to be a principal dancer in the American Ballet Theater's history. 

The National Museum of African American History and Culture opens 13 years after being established by Congress. 

Colin Kaepernick is heavily criticized for taking a knee during the national anthem. However, he is supported by other Black athletes and members of the Black community.  

Donald Glover becomes the first Black person to win Outstanding Director for a Comedy Series after writing and producing the show Atlanta, which aired on FX. 

Cities across the country make efforts to take down Confederate memorials following white nationalist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

2019 marks 400 years since the first enslaved Africans, 19 in total, were brought to the English colony of Jamestown. These Africans were initially kidnapped by Portuguese slave traders from their homeland, but were then taken from the Portuguese by English pirates.