Hundreds of black men and women march in Jamaica, starting the Morant Bay rebellion.

The Morant Bay Rebellion was a pivotal event in Jamaican and British colonial history. It took place in October 1865 in the town of Morant Bay, located on the southeastern coast of Jamaica. The rebellion was a response to severe social, economic, and racial inequalities faced by the Jamaican population, particularly the Black peasants and freed slaves, who suffered under oppressive colonial rule.
The Morant Bay Rebellion is remembered as a critical moment in Jamaica’s history. It exposed the harsh realities of post-emancipation life for Black Jamaicans and contributed to changes in the way the British governed their colonies. It also laid the groundwork for future movements advocating for political and social justice in Jamaica.

Paul Bogle’s legacy, along with that of George William Gordon, resonates in Jamaica as figures who fought for justice and equality, and their memory continues to be celebrated, particularly in Jamaica’s National Heroes Day.

The Polaroid Corporation files for federal bankruptcy protection.

Polaroid cameras have had a long and varied history since their introduction. The original Polaroid instant camera, which allowed users to take a photo and have a print in hand within minutes, was invented by Edwin Land and first sold to the public in 1948. These cameras were incredibly popular and iconic throughout the latter half of the 20th century.

However, Polaroid Corporation faced challenges in the digital age. The rise of digital photography and smartphones made traditional instant cameras less relevant. In 2001, Polaroid filed for bankruptcy and stopped producing instant film cameras for a brief period.

In 2008, Polaroid announced the discontinuation of its instant film production altogether. However, a group of enthusiasts and former Polaroid employees formed a company called “The Impossible Project” (now called Polaroid Originals) to continue producing instant film for Polaroid cameras. This move helped keep the tradition of instant photography alive.

In 2017, Polaroid Originals (now just Polaroid) launched the Polaroid OneStep 2, a new instant camera reminiscent of the classic Polaroid models. They have since continued to release new instant cameras, including digital instant cameras with modern features.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt is first displayed during the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

The Second Boer War erupts in South Africa between the British-ruled Cape Colony, and the Boer-ruled Transvaal and Orange Free State.

Anita Hill delivers her televised testimony concerning sexual harassment during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination
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Polaroid files for federal bankruptcy protection.

The original Polaroid Corporation filed for federal bankruptcy protection on October 11, 2001. The outcome was that within ten months, most of the business including the “Polaroid” name itself and non-bankrupt foreign subsidiaries had been sold to Bank One’s One Equity Partners. OEP Imaging Corporation then changed its name to Polaroid Holding Company. However, this new company operates using the name of its bankrupt predecessor, Polaroid Corporation.

Significant criticism surrounded this “takeover” because the process left executives of the company with large bonuses, while stockholders, as well as current and retired employees, were left with nothing. The company announced a plan that gave the top 45 executives bonuses just for staying at their jobs. Meanwhile, other employees were restricted from selling their stock before leaving their jobs.

As part of the settlement, the original Polaroid Corporation changed its name to Primary PDC, Inc. Having sold its assets, it was now effectively nothing more than an administrative shell. Primary PDC received approximately 35 percent of the “new” Polaroid, which was to be distributed to its unsecured creditors including bondholders. As of late 2006, Primary PDC remained in existence under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but conducts no commercial business and has no employees.

Polaroid’s bankruptcy is widely attributed to the failure of senior management — unable to anticipate the impact of digital cameras on its film business. This type of managerial failure is also known as the success trap

After the bankruptcy, the Polaroid brand was licensed for use on other products with the assistance of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. In September 2002, World Wide Licenses, a subsidiary of The Character Group plc, was granted the exclusive rights for three years to manufacture and sell digital cameras under the Polaroid brand for distribution internationally. Polaroid branded LCDs and plasma televisions and portable DVD players had also appeared on the market.

On April 27, 2005, Petters Group Worldwide announced its acquisition of PHC. Petters has in the past bought up failed companies with well-known names for the value of those names. The same year, Flextronics purchased Polaroid’s manufacturing operations and the decision was made to send most of the manufacturing to China. It stopped making Polaroid cameras in 2007 and discontinued the sale of Polaroid film after 2009 to the dismay of loyal consumers. On December 18, 2008, the post-reorganization Polaroid Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota. The bankruptcy filing came shortly after the criminal investigation of its parent company, Petters Group Worldwide, and the parent company founder, Tom Petters.

The Mary Rose, a Tudor ship that sank on July 19, 1545, is salvaged from the sea bed of the Solent, near Portsmouth.

The Mary Rose is salvaged from the sea bed of the Solent, off Portsmouth.