Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons Equatorial Guinea gained independence from Spain.
IndependenceOn this day — October 12 in African history
Real events, births and milestones from Africa and the diaspora.
Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 
CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons 1932 Dick Gregory, American comedian, author and civil rights activist, was born in St. Louis.
CultureDoris "Dorie" Miller, who became the first African-American awarded the Navy Cross for heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor, was born in Waco, Texas.
BirthSam Moore, American soul singer of the duo Sam & Dave, was born.
Culture
U.S. Air Force — Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 1975 Marion Jones, American track and field sprinter who won multiple Olympic medals before a doping scandal, was born.
Sports