2. Back in da Dayz January 8

3. The state of Alabama, named for the Native American group known as the Alibamon (of the Creek confederacy),was admitted to the union in 1861. They were readmitted to the union following the Civil War on June 25, 1868.

4. Back in da Dayz January 10

5. In 1954, the Puerto Rico House of Representatives passed a resolution approving the islands status as a U.S. commonwealth.

6. Back in da Dayz January 27

7. During this month in 1972, African American member of Congress Shirley Chisholm of New York announced her plans to run for the presidency of the United States. She was the first woman to seek the nomination for this office.

8. Back in da Dayz January 28

9. On this day, the United States space shuttle Challenger blew up 73 seconds after takeoff from the Kennedy Space Center in 1986. The crewmission commander Francis R. Scobee; pilot Michael J. Smith; mission specialists Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, and Judith A.

10. Resnik; and payload specialists Gregory B. Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher from New Hampshiredied in the accident.

11. Back in da Dayz January 29

12. In 1891, Liliuokalani became Queen of Hawaii following the death of her brother King Kalakaua. She was the last monarch in Hawaiian history.

13. Back in da Dayz January 30

14. Today became known as Bloody Sunday in 1972 when British troops shot 13 Roman Catholics in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is a Protestant dominated member of the United Kingdom, whereas Ireland is a Catholic dominated independent country.

15. Back in da Dayz January 31

16. Richard Wright received the Joel Springarn Medal from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for the highest achievement in any honorable field of endeavor. Wright was both a poet and a novelist. He is best known for his novels Black Boy and Native Son.