On this day in ...... 1978 (30 years ago today), New Zealand-born Naomi James broke the record for sailing 'round-the-world solo by 2 days, arriving in Dartmouth, England, after nearly 9 months at sea. In the course of her 27,000-mile voyage James, 29, also became the 1st woman to sail solo via Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America. James would give up sailing 4 years later on account of seasickness.
... 1953 (55 years ago today),
in the case of District of Columbia v. John R. Thompson Co., a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court held that laws passed soon after the Civil War prohibited segregation in restaurants and other places throughout Washington, D.C. An account of the citizens' campaign behind the case is here.
