December 5, 1955 – Martin Luther King, Jr., organized the Montgomery bus boycott, marking the beginning of the Civil Rights movement.
December 6, 1932 – Richard B. Spikes patented the automatic gearshift.
December 6, 1936 – Richard Francis Jones became the first African American certified in urology.
December 7, 1941 – Dorie Miller of the U.S. Navy, shot down four Japanese planes during attack on Pearl Harbor.
December 8, 1925 – Entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., was born.
December 9, 1872 – P.B.S. Pinchback of Louisiana became the first African American governor in U.S.
December 10, 1950 – Dr. Ralph J. Bunche became first black awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
December 11, 1938 – Jazz pianist McCoy Tyner was born.
