1844day.year
The Baháʼí calendar begins. This is the first day of the first year of the Baháʼí calendar. It is annually celebrated by members of the Baháʼí Faith as the Baháʼí New Year or Náw-Rúz.
On this day in 1844, the Bahá'í calendar began, celebrated by adherents worldwide as Naw-Rúz, the Bahá'í New Year.
The Bahá'í calendar, instituted on March 21, 1844, marks the beginning of the Bahá'í Era as decreed by the Báb. Known as Naw-Rúz, coinciding with the vernal equinox and the Persian New Year, it is a major holy day for Bahá'ís. The calendar comprises 19 months of 19 days each, with intercalary days adjusting the cycle. Celebrations include prayers, reading of sacred texts, and community gatherings. This new era signified the advent of a global faith emphasizing unity, peace, and the harmony of science and religion.
1844
Baháʼí calendar
Baháʼí Faith
Náw-Rúz
1925day.year
The Butler Act prohibits the teaching of human evolution in Tennessee.
In 1925, Tennessee passed the Butler Act, banning the teaching of human evolution in public schools and sparking nationwide controversy.
Named for legislator John W. Butler, the act was enacted by the Tennessee General Assembly on March 21. It prohibited teachers from teaching any theory that denied the divine creation of man. The law directly targeted Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and set the stage for the famous Scopes Trial later that year. The Scopes 'Monkey Trial' became a landmark legal battle over academic freedom and religious beliefs. Although the Butler Act remained in force until 1967, its legacy continues to influence debates on science education in the United States. The act highlighted tensions between modernist and fundamentalist viewpoints during the Roaring Twenties.
1925
Butler Act
human evolution
Tennessee
1946day.year
The Los Angeles Rams sign Kenny Washington, making him the first African American player in professional American football since 1933.
On March 21, 1946, the Los Angeles Rams signed Kenny Washington, breaking the color barrier in professional American football since 1933.
In 1946, professional American football had been segregated for over a decade when the Los Angeles Rams made history by signing Kenny Washington. Washington had been a star at UCLA, where he dominated opponents with his speed and agility. His signing marked the end of an unofficial color ban that had excluded African American players since the early 1930s. The Rams’ decision challenged racial segregation in sports and inspired other teams to follow suit. Washington’s entry into the NFL symbolized a major step toward integration and civil rights in athletics. Despite facing discrimination and limited opportunities, he paved the way for future black athletes. His courage and talent left a lasting legacy on American football and society at large.
1946
Los Angeles Rams
Kenny Washington
African American
player
American football
1960day.year
Apartheid: Sharpeville massacre, South Africa: Police open fire on a group of black South African demonstrators, killing 69 and wounding 180.
On March 21, 1960, South African police opened fire on black protesters in Sharpeville, killing 69 people and wounding 180 during an anti-pass law demonstration.
The Sharpeville Massacre occurred in the township of Sharpeville, South Africa, during a protest against the oppressive pass laws of the apartheid regime. A large crowd of black South Africans had gathered to peacefully demonstrate when police forces opened fire without warning. The brutality resulted in 69 deaths and over 180 injuries, many of whom were shot in the back while fleeing. International outrage followed as images of the massacre spread around the world, highlighting the inhumanity of apartheid. The event galvanized the South African population and intensified global condemnation and sanctions. It also led to the banning of anti-apartheid groups and increased international support for the African National Congress. Sharpeville remains a powerful symbol of resistance in the struggle against racial segregation.
1960
Apartheid
Sharpeville massacre
1965day.year
Martin Luther King Jr. leads 3,200 people on the start of the third and finally successful civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.
On March 21, 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. led over 3,200 marchers from Selma to Montgomery in a historic and successful civil rights demonstration.
Following violent opposition to earlier marches, Martin Luther King Jr. orchestrated a carefully planned and protected march from Selma to Montgomery. Over 3,200 participants embarked on the 54-mile journey to demand voting rights for African Americans. Federal protection under new legislation allowed the group to proceed without attack from local authorities. Each day, marchers sang freedom songs and upheld nonviolent discipline despite exhaustion and harsh weather. Their perseverance captured the nation’s attention and pressured lawmakers to act. Upon reaching the state capitol on March 25, they delivered a petition carrying thousands of signatures. The march directly influenced the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark achievement for civil rights. Selma’s legacy endures as a testament to peaceful protest and social change.
Martin Luther King Jr.
civil rights march
Selma
Montgomery, Alabama
1983day.year
The first cases of the 1983 West Bank fainting epidemic begin; Israelis and Palestinians accuse each other of poison gas, but the cause is later determined mostly to be psychosomatic.
A mysterious wave of fainting incidents erupts in the West Bank, later attributed largely to psychosomatic causes.
On March 21, 1983, the first cases of a widespread fainting epidemic began in schools across the West Bank. Israeli and Palestinian communities accused each other of deploying poison gas, fueling regional tensions. Medical investigations found no physical agents, and experts concluded the phenomenon was largely psychosomatic. The outbreaks spread rapidly, affecting hundreds of people, mostly young girls. This episode highlighted the power of mass hysteria amid political conflict. It prompted further research into the psychological and social factors that can trigger collective reactions. The 1983 West Bank fainting epidemic remains a notable case study in mass psychosomatic illness.
1983
1983 West Bank fainting epidemic
Israelis
Palestinians
psychosomatic
1985day.year
Canadian paraplegic athlete and humanitarian Rick Hansen begins his circumnavigation of the globe in a wheelchair in the name of spinal cord injury medical research.
Rick Hansen embarks on a global wheelchair journey to raise funds and awareness for spinal cord injury research.
On March 21, 1985, Canadian paraplegic athlete and activist Rick Hansen set out from Vancouver on his “Man in Motion” World Tour. Pushing his wheelchair through dozens of countries over 26 months, he covered more than 40,000 kilometers. Hansen’s trek aimed to raise funds and awareness for spinal cord injury medical research and rehabilitation programs. Along the way, he inspired millions with his determination, receiving support from governments, organizations, and individuals. His journey broke down social barriers and highlighted the capabilities of persons with disabilities. Ultimately, the tour raised millions of dollars and left a lasting legacy in the field of disability advocacy. Rick Hansen’s circumnavigation remains a milestone in sports philanthropy and human perseverance.
1985
paraplegic
Rick Hansen
circumnavigation
spinal cord