1. On April 21, 1836, the Battle of San Jacinto took place in Texas, which ultimately led to the independence of Texas from Mexico. Many Mississippians fought in this battle and played a significant role in securing Texas' independence.

2. On April 21, 1960, the University of Mississippi admitted the first African American student, James Meredith. This event marked a significant milestone in the civil rights movement in Mississippi.

3. On April 21, 1861, Mississippi officially seceded from the United States, becoming one of the first states to do so in the lead-up to the Civil War.

4. On April 21, 2011, a devastating tornado outbreak occurred in Mississippi, causing widespread damage and claiming the lives of over 30 people.

5. On April 21, 1926, celebrated novelist and civil rights activist Richard Wright was born in Natchez, Mississippi. Wright's literary works exposed the injustices faced by African Americans in the United States and helped bring attention to the civil rights movement.