On this day — October 12 in African history

Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Equatorial Guinea gained independence from Spain.

Sources: International Court of Justice (Memorial of Equatorial Guinea) ; U.S. Department of State

CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dick Gregory, American comedian, author and civil rights activist, was born in St. Louis.

Sources: SNCC Digital Gateway (Duke University) ; Encyclopedia.com (Cengage)

Doris "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.

Sources: The National WWII Museum (Pacific War Museum) ; U.S. National Archives

Sam Moore, American soul singer of the duo Sam & Dave, was born.

Sources: CNN ; Rolling Stone

U.S. Air Force — Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Marion Jones, American track and field sprinter who won multiple Olympic medals before a doping scandal, was born.

Sources: Olympedia (OlyMADMen) ; World Athletics