#OTD in 1859, Harriet E. Wilson publishes her novel, Our Nig.
"Harriet E. Wilson (March 15, 1825 – June 28, 1900) was an African-American novelist. She was the first African American to publish a novel in North America."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_E._Wilson
"Our Nig" at PG: